PSC/MIN/COMM.2 (DCCLXXXII) COMMUNIQUE The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 782nd meeting held on 27 June 2018, adopted the following decision on the security and migration situation in Africa: Council: 1. Takes note of the presentation by the Commissioner for Social Affairs, H.E. Amira Elfadif, as well as of the statement made by the representatives of the State of Libya on security and migration situation in Africa; 2. Recalls its previous communiqués and press statements on migration, particularly communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM(DCLXI)] adopted at its 661st ministerial meeting held on 23 February 2017 and communique [PSC/PR/COMM(DCCLXXI)] adopted at its its 771st meeting held on 11 May 2018. In this context, Council further also recalls decision [Assembly/AU/Dec.607(XXVII))] on the Free Movement of Persons and the African Passport adopted by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government at its 27 th ordinary session held in Kigali, Rwanda, in July 2016 in which the Assembly urged all Member States to adopt the African Passport and to work closely with the AU Commission to facilitate the process towards the issuance at national level based on international, continental and national policy provisions and continental design and specifications; 3. Further recalls the 2006 African Common Position on Migration and Development, as well as the Migration Policy Framework for Africa, which provide a sound basis for addressing issues of irregular migration on the Continent, caused by among others, violent conflicts, governance deficits, human rights violations, environmental factors, social exclusion, marginalization, poverty, inequality and underdevelopment, as well as lack of opportunities, particularly for the youth. Council also recalls the Agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) signed by 44 Member States at 10th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly held in Kigali, Rwanda and the Common African Position (CAP) on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration which was also adopted by the 30th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in January 2018; 4. Expresses deep concern over the scourge of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, including violation of their human rights. Council also expresses deep concern that transnational organized criminal networks have hijacked the otherwise historically harmless migration routes into a multi-billion criminal industry with devastating consequences for migrants and have profiteered from the misery and suffering of migrants. In this context, Council strongly condemns the acts of smugglers and traffickers and all their accomplices. Council underlines the importance for Member States to consolidate efforts and to increasingly coordinate and cooperate, towards fostering and strengthening existing mechanisms for better migration governance and management in the Continent; 5. Reaffirms the relevance of the Migration Policy Framework for Africa and welcomes its revision and development of a Plan of Action (2018 – 2030), as it provides Member States with 2|Page