Events & Activities

Event

AUC Deputy Chairperson Mwencha receives G8 Director Chris Austin ahead of Summit

4 June 2013

AUC Deputy Chairperson Mwencha receives G8 Director Chris Austin ahead of Summit in UK

Addis Ababa, 4 June 2013 – “Africa is increasingly attracting the attention of world powers with its economic growth and trade development in the continent and abroad”. This statement was at the centre of discussion during the audience granted on Monday 4 June 2013, by Mr. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), to Mr. Chris Austin- G8 Director.

The meeting was aimed at updating the AU on the state of preparedness for the G8 Summit scheduled for 17 – 18 June 2013 in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

Both the AUC Deputy Chairperson and the G8 Director exchanged on the three major themes of the G8 Summit. They are: ensuring tax compliance; promoting greater transparency and advancing trade in the world, respectively.

According to the G8 program, it was pointed out during the meeting that, the AUC Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will do a presentation on the issue of “trade” especially as Africa had developed an agenda for the promotion of intra-African trade and other forms of trading with the world. .

“Trade”, Mr. Mwencha said, is a good tool for development. He said that the G8 meeting will be an opportunity for Africa to present a common position particularly with regard to the Africa 2063 agenda which is an outcome of the recently celebrated 50th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now the African Union (AU).

Worth recalling that, in January 2013 the UK assumed the one-year Presidency of the G8.

The meeting took place in the presence of Ambassador Baso Sangqu, Chief Adviser to the AUC Chairperson, Mr. Greg Dorey, Ambassador of the UK Embassy in Addis Ababa, and Ms. Louise Thomas, Department for International Development (DFID) representative to AU and UNECA

Event

Press briefing of Mr Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Co

2 May 2013

INVITATION

Press briefing of Mr Erastus Mwencha,

Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission

Thursday, 2 May 2013

16h30

Kenyatta International Conference Center

Nairobi, Kenya

Mr Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission will hold on Thursday, 2 May 2013 a press briefing on the upcoming celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Organization of the African Unity (OAU) at 16h30 at the Kenyatta International Conference Center of Nairobi, Kenya.

As the Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of the Golden Jubilee, Mr Mwencha will brief the media on the activities scheduled for the celebration of Africa Day on 25th May 2013, the expected guests and the yearlong activities to be undertaken by the AU Commission as well as its Member States.

Mr Mwencha’s press briefing will be held at the margins of the celebration of the 2013 edition of the World Press Freedom Day, on 3rd May 2013, where he has been invited to speak on the subject “Media and Communication Integration in Africa. The Case for East African Community”.

Journalists are invited to attend the press briefing.

For further information you can mail the Golden Jubilee Situation Room at africa50@africa-union.org. An E-press kit is available at http://au.int/50th which includes all planned activities and communication materials.

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Contact

Mr Victor Bwire

Deputy Chief Executive Officer / Programmes Manager

Media Council of Kenya

E-mail: victor@mediacouncil.or.ke

Tel : +254722318820

Event

50th OAU-AU Anniversary: African Union Commission signs Host Agreement with the

26 April 2013

50th OAU-AU Anniversary: African Union Commission signs Host Agreement with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Addis Ababa 26 April 2013 – A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) spelling out the material and technical organization of the special Summit of the African Union in line with the celebration of the golden jubilee of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), was signed today Friday 26 April 2013.

The signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The MoU representing the host agreement between the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was signed by Mr. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission on behalf of the Union and Amb. Dawano Kedir, Minister of State, signed on behalf of the Ethiopian Government.

Worth recalling that preparations ahead of the 50th anniversary celebration of the OAU-AU is currently gathering momentum as the count down to May 25, 2013 is getting closer. The Organisation of African Unity was established on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

For more information about this historic event, consult the AU website: www.au.int

Event

AUC Deputy Chairperson Receives New AU Special Representative to Somalia

6 December 2012

Addis Ababa, 6 December 2012 – The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Mr. Erastus Mwencha, on 6 December 2012, received in audience the new African Union Special Representative (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif.

Ambassador Annadif reiterated his commitment to support the African Union (AU) efforts in maintaining peace in Somalia. He said he will continue to seek advice and guidance from the AUC Deputy Chairperson to ensure that his action on the ground is in accordance with the AU vision.

Mr. Mwencha congratulated Ambassador Annadif for his brilliant appointment as the AU Special Representative in Somalia. He explained that the AU Commission has continued to engage with the international community on the establishment of a sustainable support mechanism to address issues such as financial and logistical resources to help strengthen the capacity of the troops on the ground as well as enhance the effectiveness of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). “ Strengthening the Somali forces will enable us to scale down AMISOM’s presence and to ensure that the Somalis are indeed in charge of providing security to their own people” , the Deputy Chairperson underscored.

Worth noting that, the AU Special Representative has rich experience in international relations. He has held the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chief of Staff for the President of Chad as well as Permanent Representative of the African Union Commission to the European Union in Brussels.

Event

2nd Conference of African Ministers Responsible for Maritime-Related Affairs bac

3 December 2012

2nd Conference of African Ministers Responsible for Maritime-Related Affairs back-to-back with the 1st High Level African Maritime Cross-Sectoral Senior Officials meeting and the 5th African Maritime Cross-Sectoral Experts Workshop on the 2050 AIM-Strategy. 03 – 06 December 2012, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Event

Experts Workshop 2011

20 December 2011

20-22 Dec. 2011: In order to review and finalize the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM-Strategy), the AU Commission is planning to organize an Experts workshop at the Commission’s Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Event

The 2010 Africa Maritime Safety and Security Towards Economic Prosperity Confer

13 October 2010

The 2010 Africa Maritime Safety and Security Towards Economic Prosperity Conference.

Stuttgart, Germany

14 October 2010

Event

242nd Meeting of the Peace and Security Council.

4 October 2010

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 242nd meeting held on 4 October 2010, was briefed by the Commission on maritime security and safety in Africa and the implementation status of related AU’s decisions. Council also followed a presentation by the European Union (EU) to the AU on EU’s efforts and initiatives on maritime security and safety.

Event

AU Experts Workshop on Maritime Security and Safety :Towards Africa's Integrated

6 April 2010

AU EXPERTS WORKSHOP ON

MARITIME SECURITY AND SAFETY

6 - 7 APRIL 2010

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Towards Africa's Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIM-Strategy)*