MEDIA ADVISORY

Celebration of African Border Day

Addis Ababa, 03 June 2011 – The African Union Border Program (AUBP) of the Peace and Security Department (PSD) of the African Union Commission (AUC) will celebrate the first AU Border Day at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Tuesday 07 June 2011. The theme of the day is: “Uniting and integrating Africa through peaceful, open and prosperous borders.

African Ministers in Charge of Border Issues adopted 7 June as a day to popularize the importance of the AUBP in promoting peace and regional and continental integration in Africa.

Besides popularizing the worth of the AUBP, the day will also be used to sensitize Member States, African border populations, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), civil societies and academics on border issues.

The Border Day will be celebrated in the presence of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. Jean Ping, the Commissioner of Peace and Security, Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, Ministers and other high officials and invited experts on border issue. Other invited guests will also include the Ambassadors of AU Member States, partners, heads of international organizations, representatives of Civil Society Organisations, staff members of the AUC and members of the media.

The event will feature a release of a documentary titled “African Borders; from barriers to bridges” a panel discussion, choreographic dance and a photo exhibition.

About AUBP

The African Union Border Programme (AUBP) was established by African leaders in January 2007 at the 8th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government of the African Union. In June 2007, the African Ministers in charge of border issues adopted the Declaration on the African Union Border Programme (AUBP) and its Implementation Modalities.

The mission of the AUBP is to address the persistence of lack of delimitation and demarcation of African boundaries that gives rise to ‘undefined zones’, to facilitate and support the delimitation and demarcation of African boundaries and to develop cross-border initiatives among States.

Journalists are invited to cover the event on Tuesday 07 June 2011 as per the attached program.

DRAFT PROGRAMME FOR THE CELEBRATION OF BORDER DAY
TUESDAY, 07 JUNE 2011
Theme: ‘’Uniting and integrating Africa through peaceful, open and prosperous borders’’
Time Activity

8:45-9:00 am
Arrival of Invited Guests: Ambassadors/ and Partners, Heads of International Organizations, Regional Economic Communites, Staff Members of the AUC, Members of the Media & other invitees to the Plenary Hall.

•
9:00- 9:10 am Opening Remarks by H.E. Dr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission

9:10- 9:20 am

Welcome address by Amb. Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner, Peace and Security

9:20 -10:10 am Panel discussion by
• Mr Anthony Asiwaju ,President, African Regional Institute
Imeko, Nigeria
• Mr Martín Guillermo Ramírez, Secretary General
Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), Germany
• Mr Jose Elias Mucombo, Director, National Institute of the Sea and Boundaries, Maputo, Mozambique
• Mr Jean Peyrony, Director General,
Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière (MOT), Paris – France

10:10-10:30

Discussions
10:30- 10:55 Launching of the AUBP Documentary Film

10:55- 11:10

Tea/Coffee Break
11:10– 11:25
11:25 -12:00

 Choreography

 AUBP Photo Exhibition

End of Celebration