PSC/PR/COMM.(DCCXII) Page 3 11. Commends the efforts made by regional organisations, particularly the SADC, to defuse tensions in the DRC and to promote an inclusive dialogue for the implementation of the Political Agreement of 31 December 2016, and welcomes the decisions of the 37th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of SADC recently held in Pretoria, South Africa from 19 to 20 August 2017 on the situation in the DRC as outlined from paragraph 23 to 28 of its Communiqué, which amongst others, noted a number of challenges that have made it unrealistic for the DRC to hold elections in December 2017 as originally planned and urged the CENI to publicise the revised electoral calendar; urged all stakeholders to refrain from actions that would undermine the political and security stability with regard to developments, which led to the escalation of violence and insecurity in the Kasai Provinces; approved the appointment of a Special Envoy to the DRC; commended President Joseph Kabange Kabila, the Government of the DRC and other stakeholders for the progress made in implementing provisions of the December 31 2016 Peace Agreement; and condemned the extra-continental interferences in AU Member States affairs, in particular, the unilateral practice of targeted sanctions against Congolese personalities by non-African organisations and countries. 12. Requests the Chairperson of the Commission to take the necessary measures to dispatch a pre-electoral and security situation assessment mission to the DRC, as soon as possible, with the participation of representatives of Regional organisations, such as the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the SADC and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and to report back to Council. In this regard, Council stresses the need to strengthen the political role of the AU in the search for a solution to the crisis in the DRC as well as for the Chairperson of the Commission to enhance human resources required in the AU Liaison Office in the DRC; 13. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.