Assembly/AU/Decl.1(XX) Page 1 DECLARATION OF SOLIDARITY WITH ALGERIA FOLLOWING THE TERRORIST ATTACK ON GAZIER SITE IN AMENAS We, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, meeting at our 20 th Ordinary Session, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 27 to 28 January 2013: Deeply concerned about the terrorist attack on Gazier d‟In Amenas site in Algeria; Hereby, 1. CONDEMN with utmost firmness this cowardly and vicious act of aggression against a Member State of the African Union; 2. COMMEND the prompt and firm response by the Algerian authorities, which frustrated the criminal designs of the terrorist gangs and thereby saved hundreds of human lives and prevented incalculable material damage; 3. EXPRESS our full solidarity with the Government and people of Algeria; 4. EXPRESS our sincere condolences and deep sympathy to the Government and people of Algeria and the families of the victims of this despicable terrorist act; 5. NOTE that the terrorist aggression against Algeria is not only an act against Algeria but also against the security and stability of Africa as a whole. It testifies to the terrorist threats which target Africa, and in particular Mali, as well as other parts of the African continent. The response demonstrates the determination unwavering approach of the Union in combatting the scourge of terrorism and other related phenomena such as organized international crime; 6. SEIZE this opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the African Union to spare no effort to permanently avert these threats to the security, stability and development of the African continent and to combine its efforts with the rest of the international community in this salutary enterprise.