Assembly/AU/Dec.255(XIII) Page 1 DECISION ON THE AFRICAN UNION ACCESSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION (UNCCD) Doc.EX.CL/512(XV) Add.3 The Assembly, 1. RECOGNIZES the importance of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa for the livelihoods of millions of Africans affected by land degradation, desertification and drought; 2. TAKES NOTE of the proposal by H.E. President Idriss Deby Itno of the Republic of Chad calling on the African Union to accede to UNCCD; 3. ALSO TAKES NOTE of the recommendation of the Executive Council as contained in Decision EX.CL/Dec. 515(XV) adopted in Sirte, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in June 2009; 4. AUTHORIZES the African Union to accede to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Adopted by the Thirteenth Ordinary Session of the Assembly in Sirte, Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya on 3 July 2009