The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 213rd meeting held on 22 December 2009, considered the Report of the Mission undertaken by the Council to the Sudan, from 23rd to 25th November 2009, and adopted the following decision:

Council:

1. Takes note of the Report [PSC/PR/CCXIII] on the PSC field mission  which visited the Sudan from 23rd to 25th November 2009;

2. Stresses the need to re?energize the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and to accelerate the process of  post?conflict reconstruction and socio?economic development in  South  Sudan. In this respect, Council further stresses the importance of the AU Ministerial Committee on Post?Conflict Reconstruction of the Sudan and encourages the Committee to intensify its efforts;

3. Emphasizes the need, given the challenges related to the general  elections in April 2010 and the referendum in early 2011, for the AU  to accelerate the implementation of the recommendations of the African  Union High Level Panel on Darfur (AUPD) in line with the
decision adopted by Council at its 207th meeting held at the level of  Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Nigeria, on 29 October 2009;

4. Expresses concern at the continuing lack of confidence between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) regarding the implementation of the CPA, which affects preparations for the referendum scheduled for early 2011. In  this  regard, stresses the  need for the AU, and IGAD, with the support of  the international community, to assist in renewing  confidence between the two parties;

5. Notes the challenges faced by the Sudan in both the implementation of the CPA  and the upcoming elections in April 2010, as well as the preparations for the referendum. In this respect,  Council  decides  to  establish  an  Ad  Hoc  Committee  on  Sudan  to  assist  in  addressing the challenges. Council further agrees to undertake field missions to Sudan in support of the peace processes in that country;

6. Requests the Chairperson of the Commission to submit to it regular reports on the evolution of the situation in Sudan;

7. Decides to remain seized of the matter.