PSC/AHG/COMM/2.(CCCLIII) Page 2 6. Strongly condemns the terrorist attack against the In Amenas gas processing facility in Algeria, on 16 January 2013. Council expresses its sympathy and solidarity with the families of the victims, as well as with the Government of Algeria and the other countries whose citizens were affected by the attack. Council expresses support for the steps taken by the Government of Algeria to deal with the situation, and notes that the professionalism of the Algerian Armed Forces has made it possible to save hundreds of human lives, of both Algerian and foreign workers, and to limit the material damage to the gas processing facility; 7. Stresses the need to expedite AFISMA’s deployment and to ensure its efficient running, as well as the need to enhance the capacity of the Malian Defence and Security Forces (MDSF). In this respect, Council: (a) requests the AU and ECOWAS Commissions, in collaboration with the United Nations, the EU and other partners, to revise the AFISMA Concept of Operations (CONOPS), as endorsed by its 341st meeting, held on 13 November 2012 [PSC/PR/COMM.2(CCCXLI)], in order to increase AFISMA’s strength, including through the integration of the troops provided by Chad and other contingents that are being prepared and, in so doing, to better respond to the needs on the ground; (b) requests the Chairperson of the Commission, in consultation with the President of ECOWAS Commission and the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs), to immediately appoint the Special Representative, Head of AFISMA, and to put in place all necessary mechanisms to ensure effective command and control; (c) requests the AU Commission, together with ECOWAS and the United Nations, to immediately put in place the Mali Integrated Task Force (MITF), to ensure coordinated strategic implementation of the relevant decisions of the three organizations on the situation in Mali; (d) requests the AU and ECOWAS Commissions to deploy, as quickly as possible, as part of AFISMA and with the support of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), civilian observers to monitor the human rights situation in the liberated areas and to assist the Malian authorities to create the necessary conditions for lasting reconciliation among the different components of the Malian population, as well as for the consolidation of peace in the country; (e) urges all AU Member States, in line with its relevant decisions and United Nations Security Council resolutions, to extend the necessary financial and logistical support to AFISMA and to the MDSF, and to seize the opportunity of the donors’ conference, scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa, on 29 January 2013, to meaningfully contribute towards the mobilization of the necessary resources; (f) decides, without prejudice to the contributions that Member States are expected to make during the donors’ conference referred to above, to recommend to the Assembly of the Union to instruct that part of AFISMA budget be covered by assessed contributions from AU Member States, and requests the Commission to take all necessary steps to this end;