PSC/PR/COMM.(DCCL) 12. Acknowledges the significant improvement in the relations between the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities in Abyei. Council takes note of the extraordinary meeting of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) that took place from 14 to 15 November 2017, alongside a meeting of traditional leaders of Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities. Council underscores that while the AJOC meeting discussed the Abyei Area interim institutions, created by the Agreement on Temporary Administrative and Security Arrangements for the Abyei Area of June 2011, the meeting was not able to reach agreement on the establishment of the interim institutions. 13. Notes that no progress have been made in resolving the final status of Abyei. In this context, Council recalls the communique PSC/MIN/COMM/1(CCCXXXIX) of its 339th meeting held at Ministerial level, on 24 October 2012, which accepted the AUHIP’s Proposal on the Final Status of Abyei Area of 21 September 2012, and requested the Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan to continue their discussion on the Final Status of Abyei on the basis of the Panel's Proposal; 14. Further recalls the previous engagement of the AUHIP in the situation in South Sudan and encourages the Panel to extend its support to AU engagement in complementing IGAD efforts towards the resolution of the conflict in South Sudan, including the vital task of nation building; 15. Congratulates the AUHIP for convening a strategic consultation on the Horn of Africa which took place in Khartoum, from 8 to 10 October 2017, and brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including senior policymakers from the states of the region and beyond, scholars, thought leaders and civil society representatives, to assist the Panel in developing a regional and holistic approach to the challenges of peace, security, stability and development in the Horn of Africa; in collaboration with IGAD. Council emphasizes that the Horn of Africa historically straddles the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, and represents a center of international interest with a range of actors including from outside the Region and the continent, and therefore its challenges will only be resolved through a comprehensive and inclusive approach and the active engagement of all relevant actors, including other African Member States, such as Egypt; 16. Welcomes the adoption by the AUHIP of an action plan, under which it will convene further meetings, with the participation of all relevant actors, to deliberate upon the final recommendations of the Khartoum Consultations, and also facilitate and expedite research and further consultation to inform the proposals for action, in line with the mandate conferred by the PSC; 17. Accordingly Council: On the Cooperation Agreement (i) urges the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to continue their collaboration with each other and the Panel to sustain the implementation of all aspects of the Cooperation Agreement of 2012, including the outstanding issues, in order to achieve the goal of two viable and prosperous states at peace with each other; 3