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AFRICAN ECONOMIC CONFERENCE
28 October 2013, Fourways, Johannesburg

Opening Remarks by African Union Commission Chairperson, HE Dr. Dlamini Zuma to the Plenary session on ‘Leadership of Regional Integration’

Progress and challenges with integration

The launch of the African Union in Durban in 2002 saw the coming together of the two flagship integration projects – the project of political unity as espoused in the OAU Charter, and the project of economic integration as set out in the Abuja Treaty.

Since then, the Regional Economic Communities as building blocks of the AU have been making progress with the integration. Some of the highlights include:
• All accept one of the RECs have moved beyond the first stage of strengthening RECs; five out of eight have achieved stage two, which is the coordination and harmonization of activities and progressively eliminate tariff and non- tariff barriers; and five RECs have launched their free trade areas and customs unions, with East African Community leading the pack by having already achieved this third stage of the Treaty .
• The EAC/COMESA/SADC Tripartite that will see 27 countries uniting into a free trade area, collectively representing a positive step in terms of integration. However, the Tripartite is not moving as fast as expected and we should urge that we speed up the implementation of this agreement.
• ECOWAS setting the pace on freedom of movement of peoples, with both Ecowas and EAC recording improvements in intra-Africa trade.
• Increase in intra-Africa investment, with Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa amongst top foreign investors in the continent and we also see the growth of African companies with a continental footprint.
• Key continental frameworks also aimed at pooled sovereignity and therefore strengthening integration, including our infrastructure development programmes (PIDA). The Southern region for example is doing well in terms of improving transport networks in the region, but more needs to be done faster.

There are however a number of challenges that we continue to face:
• The RECs, though initially formed around economic and social integration, their agendas are increasingly dominated by peace and security issues, which are important but divert attention away from their core functions of integration and economic development.
• Integration of the RECs much slower than expected, with continued duplication of planning and processes. There is a need for greater coordination on key issues where our collective strength and pooled expertise and knowledge would make considerable difference, e.g. trade negotiations.
• Still inadequate link between continental, regional and national frameworks such as infrastructure, industrial policy, and so on. The challenges remain to ensure that our national, regional and continental frameworks are harmonized.
• The need for progress around soft issues with regards to movement of people, goods and services, and harmonization of policies.

Sovereignty at any time is exercised at three levels, at national level, between country and the rest of the world and our collective global sovereignty and our integration agenda therefore takes this into consideration.

Agenda 2063 and Integration

During the debates on the 50th anniversary, which is a yearlong celebration, it was said that today’s inheritors of Pan Africanism and African Renaissance are more than just fighters against what Africa does not like. Today’s generations must be the architects and builders of transformation, in order to make a Pan African Renaissance by 2063 possible .

The realization of our vision of an integrated, people-centred, prosperous Africa, at peace with itself is key to this Pan African Renaissance. The broad- based consultations around Agenda 2063 (by the ECA, ADB and AUC) with all sectors of African citizenry, is therefore part of the building a movement and broad-based leadership on the continent of architects and builders of this transformation. We should not only look at our Heads of State and Government as the leadership of Africa’s integration project, but leadership broadly and should involve all sectors of society, state and non-state.

The questions that Agenda 2063 the consultations address are very practical: (a) elaborating the vision for the continent by 2063; (b) the strategies and milestones to achieve this vision; and (c) the role of each stakeholders towards this vision. The Agenda 2063 Framework, which the AUC, ECA and ADB are coordinating will then be presenting to Heads of States and Government in January 2014, then taken for further consultations before finalization by July 2014.

We have to move from a situation of Africa as the least integrated continent, especially with regards to trade and infrastructure, towards pooling our collective resources, skills, markets, industries, experiences and other strengths.

Continental integration is therefore critical to all aspects of Agenda 2063, towards realization of a Pan African Renaissance and to the medium term priorities of the AU Commission. These priorities are:

a) Ensuring a skills revolution through investment in education, research, science and technology and innovation. This includes the Pan African University and the harmonization of university curriculums project, in order to build continental centres of excellence and the mobility of skills and of African students. This also requires linkages with industry in key growth sectors so that we can engage the private sector on the kind of skills required, on their contribution to training and skills development, and providing job and artisanal opportunities for young graduates.

b) Building Africa’s collective food and nutrition security through investment in agriculture, developing agro-processing, agricultural infrastructure and extension services, and infrastructure to expand trade in agricultural and food products amongst African countries.

c) Speeding up infrastructure development that address key economic and social needs (transport, ICT, energy and other social and economic infrastructure) and that also help to link economies and countries. The PIDA priority projects are important in this regard and cooperation amongst and across countries on these critical projects will also strengthen the foundations and drive for integration.

d) Investment in youth and women, who make up the majority in all countries and the benefits of such investments to growth, development and social cohesion and inclusion is critical.

e) The industrialization of the continent through value-addition and beneficiation of our natural resources, building manufacturing and services around our growing population needs, our domestic market and the development of regional production chains. Encouraging intra-Africa tourism.

f) Mobilising domestic resources, and pooled resources to speed up continental development and leverage external resources. Scale of many of the projects and programmes required pooled resources, planning, implementation and management.

We need to speed up progress on integration issues such as integrating the RECs, building the regional and continental common markets, free movement of people, services and goods and harmonization of policies.

However, integration will gain greater traction when we see greater cooperation in implementing our infrastructure projects; grow our agricultural and agro-processing sectors; industrialize and diversify our economies, increase trade amongst ourselves, build Pan African businesses, people to people links and harmonize our vocational and higher education sectors to allow for mobility of skills and proffssions in the continent.

Leadership on regional integration should therefore happen, not only at government level, but at all levels of African society and all institutions – whether business, civil society and private sector.

Thank you

Statement by H.E. Dr. Aisha L. Abdullahi (Amb.) Commissioner for Political Affairs African Union Commission at the Opening Ceremony of the 54th Ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)

Statement by H.E. Dr. Aisha L. Abdullahi (Amb.) Commissioner for Political Affairs, African Union Commission at the Commemoration of Africa Human Rights Day Under the Theme: “The Promotion and Protection of Human and Peoples’ Rights is Our Collective Responsibility” 21 October 2013 Addis Ababa - Ethiopia

Welcome Remarks of the African Union Commission Chairperson, HE Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to the Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government
Addis Ababa, 12 October 2013

 
Your Excellency Ato Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the African Union

Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government

Excellency Deputy Chairperson Mwencha and fellow Commissioners

Honourable Ministers and Members of the Executive Council

Honourable Heads of Delegations and Representatives of the RECs and the UNECA

Your Excellencies, Members of the Permanent Representative Committee

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am pleased to warmly welcome you back to Addis Ababa and to thank you for your positive response to our invitation to take part in this Extraordinary Summit.

The holding of this Extraordinary session is a testimony to the importance of the matter that the Assembly has been seized with for a long time.

The Assembly is also seized with the task of electing a new Commissioner for Peace and Security, following the appointment of HE Ambassador Lamamra to the position of Foreign Minister of Algeria. On behalf of the Commission, we thank him for the tireless work in pursuit of our collective peace and security, in the true spirit of Pan Africanism.

The Extraordinary Summit also takes place as we bow our heads in memory of the victims of the terrorist attacks in Kenya and Nigeria last month, and of the Africans who perished off the coast of the Lampedusa Island when their boat sank on the 3rd of October.

Excellencies

When the Assembly adopted the Constitutive Act in 2002, it was mindful of the fact that the scourge of conflicts constitutes a major impediment to the socio-economic development of the continent.

As we therefore transformed from the OAU to the African Union, we moved from a policy of non-interference to the policy of non-indifference; the unequivocal rejection of impunity; and the promotion and protection of human and people’s rights in accordance with the African Charter of Human and People’s Rights.

It was these principles that saw many Member States initiating reviews of their Constitutions to align it with the relevant provisions of the AU Constitutive Act. In addition, the majority of AU Member States, thirty four (34) in total, are parties to the Rome Statutes, a clear testimony to the commitment of Africa to an international justice system set up to combat impunity and to seek redress for victims of human rights abuses.

The African Union remains of the view that the promotion of international justice, the rejection of impunity and the fight against violations of human rights must go hand in hand with the promotion of peace, security, democracy, reconciliation, inclusion and stability.

As we therefore reflect on our long and arduous struggle for a peaceful Africa, as we continue to seek African solutions to African problems, we are reminded of the words of Nelson Mandela, when he said
“..solutions can be found even to conflicts that have come to seem intractable and that such solutions emerge when those who have been divided reach out to find the common ground.”

Excellencies,

The violence that erupted in Kenya after the elections in 2007 deeply saddened our continent.

In the spirit and letter of non-indifference, the African Union intervened through the Eminent Persons panel to assist Kenya to bring together all stakeholders to find common ground, and to set it on the path where the people of Kenya could begin to address the underlying causes of these tragic events.

Following the National Accord that resulted from Kenya’s National Dialogue and Reconciliation Process, the country made progress in transforming its police and judiciary, promoting peaceful resolution of conflicts amongst local communities, and introduced a new Constitution that allows greater inclusion in the context of Kenya’s diversity. Both President Kenyatta and Vice President Ruto, along with the leadership from all sectors of Kenyan society, played a critical role in bringing together contending groups to find common ground.

In addition, based on the reports presented to the 15th Extraordinary Executive Council by the Kenyan delegation, work is ongoing on investigations and prosecutions of the 2007/2008 post-elections violence and on resettlement of the thousands of Kenyans displaced by the violence.

The peaceful elections that Kenya held in March 2013, with high participation of the populace and the commitment by all parties to resolve disputes through the legal system, is testimony that the country has indeed come a long way since the tragic events of 2007/2008.

There is no question that much more needs to be done to consolidate reconciliation, inclusion, human rights and social justice in Kenya, but we are of the view that the country is on the right track.

Excellencies,

The security situation in Kenya remains fragile, as seen in some parts where instability is of ongoing concern, and as experienced with the recent terrorist attack in Nairobi.

We should therefore not allow Kenya to slide back for any reason and the AU is keen to see stability and an improved security situation in Kenya.

This requires the undivided attention of its leadership, to consolidate and create conditions for lasting peace, security and reconciliation. Given the challenges remaining in the country outlined above and the security threats it continues to face, the elected leadership of Kenya must be allowed to serve their term as mandated by the people of the country.

They must be allowed to lead the country in the consolidation of peace, reconciliation, reconstruction, democracy and development as per the will of the Kenyan people, expressed in elections in March this year.

As a Member State, Kenya plays an important role in the promotion of peace and security on the continent in general, and in the Horn of Africa in particular.

Excellencies,

Our continent and the African Union remain committed to the system of international justice and action against impunity. African states played an important role in the adoption of the Rome Statutes and the establishment of the ICC, in recognition of the importance of transitional justice in the promotion of peace and security.

Kenya, as a State Party to the Rome Statutes, throughout this difficult period has also in word and deed expressed its willingness to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC), even after the elections of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Vice President William Ruto to office.

This is despite national and international customary laws, including in many Western countries, which guarantee sitting Heads of State and Government immunity from prosecution during their tenure of office, more especially when they are democratically elected.

Excellencies, communication between the ICC and the AU has been ongoing. Since the May Summit, we send two letters co-signed by the Chairpersons of the AU and the AU Commission to the ICC, an AU delegation led by the Chairperson of the Executive Council met the President and Prosecutor of the Court in The Hague and the Chairperson of the Commission met the ICC Prosecutor earlier this week.

We would therefore like the United Nations Security Council and the ICC to work with us to ensure that the process of stability, reconciliation, security and peace in Kenya is consolidated.

The UN Security Council and the ICC should work with us to enable the elected leadership of Kenya to fulfill their constitutional obligations, by urgently considering deferment of the ICC proceedings against the President and Vice President of Kenya, in accordance with Article 16 of the Rome Statutes.

This will also allow the leadership of Kenya to ensure that the country does not slide back into violence and instability.

In our view, this will further give the State Parties time and space to place matters that are of concern to Africa on the agenda of the coming Assembly of State Parties to the Rome Statutes, and to discuss the approach and role of the ICC dispassionately and calmly.

It is critical that we remain within the legal framework of the Rome Statutes.

Excellencies,

The Assembly decision in May this year also undertook to “seek ways of strengthening African mechanisms to deal with African challenges and problems.” Although more needs to be done, we are recording progress in implementing the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture, at national and continental levels.

We should however do more to strengthen the integrity and capacity of our national and continental Judicial system, including the African Court on Human and People’s Rights, so that the ICC indeed becomes the court of last instance, as intended in the Rome Statutes and in pursuit of African people’s demand for justice, reconciliation and respect of their human rights and dignity.

Finally, as we mourn the senseless deaths of Africans who perished off the coast of the Lampedusa Island, and countless other similar deaths, we must scale up our investment in Africa’s young men and women, so that they do not have to face such perilous journeys, leaving our shores in search of illusive green pastures.

In this, the year of the 50th Anniversary of the OAU and African Union, we must accelerate Africa’s renaissance by speeding up infrastructure and agricultural development; deepen industrialization and integration; and by investing in the health, education and skilling of our people, especially youth and women.

I wish you fruitful deliberations and outcomes.

Merci beaucoup