Department FrontPage

Remarks By

H.E Dr. Aisha Abdullahi

Commissioner for Political Affairs, African Union Commission

At the African Union Committee of Ten Heads of States on the Reform of the UN Security Council

Oyo, Republic of Congo

16 May 2014
Your Excellency, President Denis Sassou Nguesso,
President of the Republic of Congo

Your Excellency, President Ernest Bai Koroma,
President of the Republic of Sierra Leone
Coordinator of the Committee of 10

Your Excellency, President Theodoro Obiang NGuema,
President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea

Your Excellency, President Nouri Bousahmein,
President of the General Congress of the Republic of Libya

Your Excellencies Ministers of the Republic of Congo

Your Excellencies, C10 Foreign Ministers

Your Excellency Minister of the Republic of Congo

Excellencies Permanent Representatives in New York and Addis Ababa

Distinguished Delegates

Permit me to begin my brief remarks with felicitations from H.E Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission. She would have wished to be among us this morning but due to commitments of a similar nature, she sends her best wishes and reaffirms the support of the African Union Commission to the Committee of 10 in executing its historic mandate with regards to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Reform.

I am delighted and honored to represent the AU Commission at this important first Summit of the Committee of 10 outside the margins of the Assembly. This is yet another unique chance to reflect, deliberate, and strategize on a common African Position on the Reforms of the UN Security Council.

On my behalf and the delegation from the AUC, I would like to thank our gracious host, His Excellency, President Denis Sassou Nguesso, for the warm hospitality accorded us since our arrival in Brazzaville and to this beautiful city of Oyo. I would also like to express our appreciation to His Excellency, President Ernest Bai Koroma for his efforts in providing leadership to the work of the Committee of 10 and for co-convening this meeting. Let me add that this visionary leadership inspires us and is a testimony to the importance the African Union attaches to this process. We are looking forward to frank conversations, unity and consensus building that would emerge here to guide the work of the African Union towards Africa's legitimate demands on the reform of the United Nations Security Council.

Your Excellencies,

The subject matter of your gathering here needs little introduction. It is an issue whose time has come and is indeed long overdue.

For years, Africa has remained on the margins of the global legal and institutional order. Since the 1990s, we have demanded for equity and fairness at the UN. We have called for more representation, inclusiveness, accountability and transparency in decision-making. We believe this is a fair demand on an institution we have remained committed to the ideals of since its inception.

While it was possible to ignore our voices and demands in the past, today, Africa, has truly come of age. The once dubbed sleeping giant has woken up and is rising with greater unity of purpose, determination and resolve. Our meeting here and indeed the entire work of the Committee of 10, makes a compelling case for consensus building. We are called upon to find a lasting solution on the reform of the UN Security Council.

The significance of this Committee of 10 is immense. There is no doubt that given the diversity of our People and Member States, we are bound to have competing interests and positions. It is therefore not an easy task, but it is one that we are well prepared for.

I would like to urge that we focus on the core purpose and work at the centre of these negotiations. We must remain resolute on the need for a UN that is ready to adapt and respond to the prevailing geopolitical reality of the global system. While we may have different ideas and approaches on how to get that done, at the very least we must agree on the need for equity and fairness in the UN system. I am therefore confident that we will work in earnest to reach consensus.

I would encourage that we remain open and frank to each other whilst focusing on the goal. So far, the intergovernmental negotiations on the reform of the UN Security Council have been protracted and almost stalled. While there are many versions and interpretations of the status quo, it is imperative to always remember that we are the losers with the status quo. We must remain steadfast and resolute on the course.

Excellencies,

I would like to suggest that we shift gears a notch higher internally as we engage the World on this. We must invest in much more intense political mobilization. The conversation and negotiations must not only remain in Addis Ababa and New York. We must get into the field and mobilize support for our position. Our Member States capitals must be ready and willing to engage creatively and innovatively on this matter.

Our strategy should therefore adopt among others shuttle diplomacy and engagement with not only the African group but in equal measure our counterparts from other regions of the World. We must take advantage of the relationship with both our traditional and new allies, whilst we must be conscious of their interests and divergent views. Indeed, while it is important to keep the Ezulwilini consensus as our principled position let us deliberate and agree in this meeting to negotiate with others idealistically but pragmatically. We must move resolutely to solidify and concretize the alliances with those groups which hold similar position as the African Common Position, as long as all its aspects are preserved.

The Committee of 10 has its work cut out. The urgency and breadth of this assignment requires concerted action and effort. Importantly it requires visionary leadership and guidance.

Africa must occupy its rightful place in the global legal and institutional order. This is in line with what we are globally seeking through the implementation of Africa Agenda 2063. Our demand for two permanent seats in the UN Security Council with veto powers, and five non-permanent seats, are just but a part of the reform that we are committed to see at the UN as a whole. It is therefore not just about membership to the UN Security Council but comprehensive UN reforms.

Excellencies,

On my behalf and that of the African Union Commission, I would like to reaffirm our commitment and support to this process and the Committee of 10. We remain at the disposal of the Committee to offer technical, budgetary, logistical and political support, subject to the will of our Member States. We will leave no resources behind to ensure that Africa claims and occupies its rightful place in the global legal and institutional order.
This is certainly in line with our vision of an "integrated, prosperous, peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena".

I thank you

OPENING STATEMENT

by

H.E. TUMUSIIME RHODA PEACE
COMISSIONER FOR RURAL ECONOMY AND AGRICULTURE

on the occasion of

The Fifth Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
Transcop Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria, 13-16 May 2013

- Your Excellency Senator Anyim Pius Anyim (GCON), Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Federal Republic of Nigeria;
- Your Excellency Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG);
- Your Excellency Saviour Kasukuwere, Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Zimbabwe and Bureau Chair of African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology;
- Your Excellency Amb. Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, President, Economic Community for West African States Commission;
- Your Excellency Mr. Ryuichi Shoji, Ambassador of Japan to the Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Your Excellencies members of the Diplomatic Corps;
- Distinguished Delegates of AU Member States;
- Representatives of Regional and International Organizations and Partners;
- Distinguished Guests;
- Ladies and Gentlemen;
- All protocols duly observed;

Allow me to add my voice in welcoming you all and convey the warm greetings and best wishes from the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Her Excellency is aware of and appreciates the important role that this Conference will play in concretizing Africa’s Contribution to the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), which will not only facilitate the integration of Africa’s priorities into the global Post-2015 Framework for DRR, but also provides a solid foundation for the formulation of the next generation of the Programme of Action for the implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for DRR in line with the Poat-2015 Framework for DRR. The Chairperson also acknowledges and appreciates the role you all have been playing in advancing DRR on the continent guided by the Africa Regional Strategy and its Programme of Action, which is in line with the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). As you may know, part of the vision of the AU is for Africa to become a dynamic force in the global arena and I am glad that through our efforts in DRR we are contributing to that.

This Fifth Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction is taking place in this beautiful city of Abuja under the theme: “Prevent Risk-Build Resilience” and I would like, in this context, to thank the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not only for hosting it, but also for the warm welcome and the legendary hospitality accorded to all of us here since our arrival.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This Regional Platform was preceded by pre-conference events that took place yesterday and I am informed were productive and will be concluded with a Ministerial Segment on 16th May 2014 with the adoption of the final outcome of the Platform.

I, therefore, look forward to these engagements culminating in the elaboration of the Africa’s Contribution to the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and, based on that, preparation of the draft Summary Statement and Declaration, which together with Voluntary stakeholder commitment generated from the Preparatory stakeholder consultations held today will be submitted to a Ministerial Segment for consideration and adoption.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen

What makes holding this Conference unique is, among others is that:

Firstly, it is happening in the year that the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union declared as the Year of Agriculture and Food Security; and we know how relevant issues of vulnerability and building resilience are for this sector and I need not mention the impact that DRR has on Africa’s predominantly rain-fed agriculture and how our work on DRR will contribute to the AU vision of a food and nutrition secure citizenry. It is also the International Year of Family Farming and the work we are doing in DRR is for households, communities and nations.

Secondly, this Conference is happening at a time when we are celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), the overarching framework for African agricultural transformation that also includes strong components on resilience.

Thirdly, the Conference is happening in the year, when the African Union Commission is finalizing the development of the Africa Climate Change Strategy, which, among others, will facilitate the integration of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in our continental regional and national endeavours with a view to reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing resilience in the face of intensifying and more frequent disasters and climate change impacts;

Furthermore 2014 is the year, when the Extended Programme of Action for the implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for DRR nears its conclusion and the consultation process leading to the formulation and elaboration of Africa’s Contribution to the pos-2015 Framework for DRR and hence the next generation of the Africa Regional Strategy for DRR and its Programme of Action is underway; and

Finally, it is happening in the year, when the two other critical instruments, namely the post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda and Climate Change agreement are under discussion.

All these milestones are relevant to the post-2015 Framework for DRR to enable Africa to fully realize its Agenda 2063: the Africa We Want. As we are in the last month of commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU under the Theme: Pan Africanism and African Renaissance, the AU and its Member States are in advanced stages of developing the Africa Agenda 2063 on the vision of “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena”. Definitely, issues of disasters shall be taken into account given their frequency and intensity as well as their adverse impacts on the livelihoods of our citizens.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is pleasing to not that the Draft Africa’s Contribution to the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which this Platform will further elaborate and adopt, is the product of a series of consultations and consultative meetings that took place at continental, regional and national levels over that last few years and refined at the last meeting of the Africa Working Group on DRR held on 12 and 13 March 2014 here in Abuja. The outcome of periodic assessments of the progress on the implementation of the Extended Programme of Action for the implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for DRR and the Hyogo Framework for Action, and the third Global Platform for DRR has also provided invaluable inputs into the formulation process.

In light of its mandate, the African Union Commission, with support from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, has been providing leadership, coordination, and support to the process leading up to the formulation of the draft Africa’s Contribution to the Post-2015 Framework for DRR. The African Union Commission will continue exerting its utmost efforts in support of AU Member States to ensure the incorporation of the Africa’s contribution as adopted by the Ministerial Segment of this Regional Platform into the upcoming new global instrument, post-2015 Framework for DRR or HFA2, and its implementation. Ensuring the incorporation of the Africa’s Contribution into the post-2015 global Framework for DRR will mean providing an essential instrument that will allow us to transforming development to manage risk, seize opportunities and strengthen resilience, thereby ensuring sustainable development.

The African Union Commission acknowledges and appreciates the critical role that UNISDR, under the able leadership of Her Excellency Margareta Wahlström, has been playing in the process leading to the formulation of the Africa’s Contribution to the post-2015 Framework for DRR. We also highly value the contributions from the Regional Economic Communities, our development partners and all other stakeholders in this regard.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen

We are encouraged by of the key milestone achievements that we have, through working closely and vigorously, been able to register to date as the result of the implementation of the Extended Programme of Action for the implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy in line with HFA.

At this juncture, I would like to salute the Member States and the Regional Economic Communities that have put in place policies, strategies, plans, and programs for DRR and established institutional and legal frameworks, capacities and mechanisms to support implementation. We are happy that the Africa Regional Strategy for DRR and its Programme of Action has also enabled most Member States and Regional Economic Communities to make a paradigm shift from a reactive crisis management to a more proactive risk management. Moreover, the Strategy has been instrumental in increasing political commitment and awareness for advancing DRR in Africa in the context of sustainable development, including its integration into national and sectoral development processes and education system. It has also played an important role in enhancing availability and access to information and knowledge around disaster risk to help promote risk informed development process and resilience building; setting and operationalizing early warning systems and strengthening preparedness mechanisms for disaster response and recovery; and establishing and operationalizing coordination mechanisms for DRR.

Despite all these appreciable achievements with far reaching impacts and opportunities, I am sure you will agree with me that there still exist some challenges that need to be addressed if we want to keep the momentum and accelerate the implementation of the Extended Programme of Action for the implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy and be able to lay a solid foundation for the implementation of the next generation of the Extended Programme in line with the post-2015 Framework for DRR and contribute to the realization of the Africa Agenda 2063 which will place disaster risk reduction among its priorities.

Let me mention some of those challenges that most of you are familiar with ,and they include: the varying level of advancement among AU Member States in implementing the Africa Regional Strategy for DRR and its Porgramme of Action in line with the HFA; the limited availability and access to information and knowledge on disaster risks and losses and damages associated with them; the low capacity for translating existing policies, strategies, plans, and programmes into actions, especially at the community level where our focus should be; slow progress in harmonizing policies, strategies, plans and programmes and create synergies; and the weak accountability and monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. These are, indeed, areas of concern but also a reason for our doubling of our collective efforts and, fortunately, these are surmountable if we sustain the momentum.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is worth noting that the draft Africa’s Contribution to the post-2015 Framework for DRR is built on achievements to date and aimed at seizing potential opportunities and addressing challenges to advance DRR in Africa as an integral part of sustainable development.

We are further encouraged that the prioritized major focus areas identified in the Summary Statement on Africa’s Contribution to the post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction include:
- Enhancing risk assessment and Institutional Frameworks;
- Integration of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation;
- Investments in Disaster Risk Reduction; and
- Enhancing Commitments.

All these are fundamental for transforming development to manage risk, seize opportunities, and strengthen resilience, thereby ensuring sustainable development as part of the spirit and drive rekindled by the Theme of Pan Africanism and African Renaissance during the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the OAU, predecessor to the AU.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen
As I said earlier, it is my hope and I am confident that this Platform will further elaborate and adopt the Summary Statement on Africa’s Contribution to the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction refined by the Africa Working Group and will form the basis of the formulation of the Declaration that will be adopted at the Ministerial Segment of this Regional Platform. The Declaration together with the Summary Statement and Voluntary stakeholder commitments generated from the Preparatory Consultations will be considered for adoption at the Ministerial Segment and submitted to the Preparatory Committee of the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland in July 2014 for consideration and to the African Union Summit in early 2015 for endorsement.

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen

Let me also talk to you about another important issue of Specialised Technical Committees. Fourteen Ministerial Specialised Technical Committees (STCs), which constitute important multispectral organs of the African Union were established within various Decisions of the AU Policy Organs.

In that context, DRR falls under the STC on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment, which also includes crop agriculture, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, food and nutrition security, forestry, water, land, environment and climate change, meteorology and climate services.

The STCs are expected to work in close collaboration with the various departments of the AUC so as to provide well-informed inputs to the work of the Executive Council in their area sof specialisation. Additionally, they should be involved in monitoring the programme development and their implementation by the AU and RECs on behalf of the Executive Council.

The STCs are scheduled to meet biennially (once every two years). The Commission is now working on modalities for operationalizing the STCs. Given the number of sectors involved in the STC and the likelihood of varying priorities with time, we have considered a number of options. One approach is to organise separate meetings of experts for each sector and bring the outcome to the STC Ministerial Session. Alternatively, we may organise sectoral sub-committees to meet separately before the full STC meeting.

We will inform you once the process is completed in the AUC and the functional modalities with particular regard to the DRR sector are in place.
The inaugural meeting of the STC on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment, of which DRR is part, will be convened soon and hence-forth replacing the Conference of Ministers of the composite sectors mentioned above. At the inaugural meeting, you could provide your views and guidance on the mechanism. Our focus is to ensure that the institutional arrangements for our DRR Ministerial organ enables us to hold our decision making meetings as effectively as possible.

In conclusion, I would like, once again, to express my heartfelt gratitude and that of the Commission of the African Union, to all that have directly and indirectly contributed to the process of formulating Africa’s Contribution to the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. In particular, I wish to extend my appreciation to the United Nations International System for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNISDR, under the able leadership of Her Excellency Margareta Wahlström, not only for its close collaboration and support during the formulation process, but also for its tireless efforts in making this Platform possible. My special thanks also go to all other our partners including UNDP, UNECA and the European Union for their continued and valuable support.

I would like also to express my profound thanks to the Regional Economic Communities and Member States not only for their active engagement in the formulation process, but also for their demonstrated leadership and ownership of the process thereby laying guarantees for consolidation and sustainability for the benefit of the citizens of Africa.

Finally, let me once again take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, especially to its National Emergency Management Agency, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for graciously hosting and providing support to this Regional Platform. Above everything else, we appreciate the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to us since the first day of our arrival in this beautiful city, Abuja.

I wish to conclude my statement by calling on all our partners and stakeholders present here to continue extending their support to complement the efforts of the African Union Commission, the Regional Economic Communities, and Member States, geared towards accelerating the implementation of the Extended Programme of Action for the implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for DRR in line with the Hyogo Framework for Action and its successor and within the framework of the Africa Agenda 2063 on The Africa We Want, so that our citizens’ vulnerability is reduced and their resilience is enhanced.

I wish you all productive deliberations and an enjoyable stay in Nigeria.
I thank you for your kind attention!

Agenda 2063: Tourism in Africa

Statement by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, on the occasion of the Tourism Indaba Ministerial Roundtable
eThekwini/Durban, 9 May 2014

 
Honourable Marthinus Van SCHALKWYK, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of South Africa;
Honourable Ministers;
AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy
Representative of regional and international organisations;
Distinguished Delegates;
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is with great pleasure that I am taking the floor to address you on a subject that is so important to African development and prosperity.

I was exited when I heard that South Africa decided to extend the Tourism Indaba to the rest of the continent. Let me thank Honourable Marthinus Van SCHALKWYK, the Minister of Tourism of the Republic of South Africa for this initiative. My personal appreciation to the Minister of Tourism of Seychelles, with whom Ive discussed the idea of an African chapter, when I visited the island state last year and who hosted the African Tourism Ministers Working Group. A note of appreciation to all Ministers of Tourism and Experts who met in Seychelles in March 2014 to define tourism targets and strategies for the African Agenda 2063.

Agenda 2063 builds on the Pan African vision and frameworks developed over decades, the OAU Charter, the Monrovia Declaration, the Lagos Plan of Action, the Abuja Treaty and NEPAD, and bring them together. It allows Africans from all walks of life and in all sectors to discuss and determine the future they want.

Agenda 2063 helps us to look ahead fifty years, allows us to move beyond the constraints of today, to dream and to plan. It allows us put in place milestones towards reaching our dreams in the shortest possible time.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen

We are living in a continent that is endowed and blessed with vast natural resources and historical artefacts with incredible touristic value. The extensive wild life reserves with a variety of unique species, the great rivers, forests, astounding waterfalls, lakes, snow-capped mountains close to the Equator, our vast oceanic resources to name but a few, are hallmarks of the continent waiting to be explored. In addition, our friendly and warm people, and our diverse cultures is yet another advantage.

This is also a continent that is the cradle of humanity and which have seen momentous occasions in the evolution of humanity. We therefore have a rich heritage, with over eight of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Africa and many more to come.

Most of our continent has remained preserved in pristine conditions, with our people and nature living in balance.

The big question that we need to ask ourselves and answer is: how much has the continent and the world benefited from the wonderful touristic resources existing in Africa? How many of our own peoples are aware of the tourism wealth that abounds in their continent?

Excellencies,

According to the current information of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), global international tourist arrivals grew by 5% on average in 2013 to over 1 billion compared to 2012. Demand for international tourism was strongest for destinations in Asia, the Pacific and Africa, which grew by 6%. Even with the financial crisis, tourism in Europe grew by 5%.

Against this background, International tourist arrivals in Africa saw an increase in arrivals by 3 million tourists in 2012, bringing the number of international tourists to our shores to a new record of 56 million. This figure is more than double that registered in 2000, making of Africa one of the fastest growing tourism regions in the world during the last decade, starting from a very low base.

in absolute terms, Africa still lags behind all regions, accounting for less than 5% of total global arrivals. In Asia and Pacific countries arrivals now stand at 248 million, the Americas increased to 169 million and arrivals in Europe reached a total of 563 million.

China, which became the largest outbound market in 2012 with an expenditure of US$ 102 billion, saw an increase in expenditure of 26% to a total of US$ 129 billion in 2013. The Russian Federation, the 5th largest outbound market worldwide with an expenditure of US$ 54 billion, also reported 26% growth while Brazil at US$ 25 billion became one of the top ten source markets by expenditure in 2013, with a growth rate of 14%. In contrast, the US and Europe outbound tourism grew by only +3% while Germany, Japan and Italy reported decline in outbound tourist expenditure.

I have provided the global tourist situation in figures in order to enable us to clearly see Africa’s position in this industry despite its abundant tourism endowments. We need to keep watching the global market trends especially for regions and countries, which produce more outbound in order to judiciously direct our marketing efforts for greater results.

In that regard, it is clear that currently and for some time to come in the future, China and BRICs countries more generally, will remain a strong market for tourism, which needs to be taken more seriously.

When we say: AFRICA: OPEN FOR TOURISM, we need to know where to direct our marketing efforts and which particular aspects of our tourism facilities and services are in need of improvement in order to cater for the targeted markets.

Your Excellency, Honourable Ministers

As I mentioned at the outset, the African Union Commission, has prioritised tourism among the socio-economic sectors in defining the targets and strategies for the Africa Agenda 2063. We believe tourism has a huge potential and would go a long way in improving the economic and social status of Africans in the next few decades. In Seychelles, the Ministerial Working Group conducted their work under the theme: Tourism: a Transformative Force for Africa.

The Ministerial Working Group chose a very ambitious overall goal for the tourism sector in the African Agenda 2063, that is to “MAKE AFRICA THE PREFERRED DESTINATION FOR TOURISM”. Now we need to work on the right strategies that will enable us to reach that desired goal. Fortunately, we already have the AU-NEPAD Tourism Action Plan, which was adopted in July 2004. The Action Plan has comprehensively outlined the situation, challenges and strategies for the tourism sector in Africa. On my part, I will touch on a few ones that appear more critical at this point in time.

One thing that is clear is that we cannot achieve successful results in the tourism industry, if we continue to work in isolation as individual countries. We have to start pursuing joint strategies in order to accelerate growth in this sector. Tourists are not interested in our administrative borders; they want to explore as many sites attraction as possible given limited resources and time at their disposal.

Therefore, we need to focus on joint marketing of our tourism attractions across the borders. For example, we could arrange to cater for groups of tourists who want to enjoy a package including the beaches of Mombasa, the Mount Kilimanjaro and a visit to the primates in the Virunga Mountains.

This means that, we need to urgently work on simplified and joint visa regimes (uni-visa) that can be quickly made available electronically and, hence, enable tourists to move around groups of African countries easily and more affordably. I am glad that some Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have already done so and others are working on this initiative.

A second issue is the importance of also developing the domestic African tourism market. We now have a middle class on the continent of above 300 million people, and we must ensure that as their ranks swell and more Africans have disposable income for holidays, they also spent it in the continent.

A third important issue is the infrastructure for tourism, from hotels, lodges, bed and breakfast and restaurants to transport, ICT, energy, water and sanitation. Tourists want pristine landscape and reserves, but they also want reliable energy, access to wi-fi hotspots and other forms of modern infrastructure.

Let me start with air transport and the issues of connectivity and ease of movement between and within our countries. The current situation whereby to move between African regions one has to transit either through Europe or the Middle East is no longer acceptable. We already have the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision for Liberalisation of Air Transport Markets in Africa. We need to speed up its implementation in order to ensure that as many cities and other socio-economic centres of our continent are connected by reliable, safe secure and sustainable direct flights. No huge investments are called for here; just some reasonable adjustment of policy and regulatory measures.

More importantly, in mt ‘E-mail from the future,’ written to Kwame Nkhrumah from 2063, we spoke about our children and grandchildren criss-crossing the continent with a high-speed train, that connect all African capitals and major cities. When we raised it for the first time last year, it sounded like a pipe dream, but just a week ago there are signs that this is indeed something that can be done and we are starting shaping our ideas. We are discussing this for example with China, which is now the leading country in high-speed rail development and technology. Connecting African cities by a connected high-speed rail is a twenty to thirty year project, but we must and will start today to put plans place and start executing them.

We’ve paid attention to our land resources as tourist attraction, but our oceanic resources, which are three times our landmass, have been neglected. Sea transport between our countries, in addition to our beaches and diving sites must therefore also be attended to as we develop our strategy and milestones for the future of African tourism.

Another issue, which is becoming a real danger to the tourism sector in Africa is the scourge of poaching. In recent years, the killing of wild life especially elephants and rhinos for their tusks and horns has reached epidemic proportions. Over a thousand of our rangers across the continent have been killed by poachers. We are and must engage all countries who are recipients of these illegal goods, so that we put a stop to the killing of a heritage that belongs to all of humanity.

One thing is clear though. The scale of poaching and the audacity of the traffickers, exhibited by intercepted container loads alleged to have passed through African ports, shows the existence of well-organised crime rings with the collusion of senior public officials. If we do not take concerted measures to stop this menace, the tourism wealth that we are boasting of today will remain just a historical fact to be taught at schools for our future generations to ponder on what went wrong with us, their ancestors.

Your Excellency, Honourable Ministers

I need not overemphasise the hope that the African Union Commission has placed on the tourism sector to play its role to move this continent towards integration, peace and shared prosperity. In that regard, I count on your valuable wisdom to work together to speed up the achievement of the goal of prosperity and stability in our beloved Africa.

The African Union Commission will always be available to work with you, the RECs, specialised organisations and our key partners including the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to ensure that the tourism sector makes the expected contribution to the aspirations of our peoples as enshrined in the African Agenda 2063.

The expanded Tourism Indaba is, definitely, an African event with an African cultural accent. As we are creating a Tourism “BRAND AFRICA”, let us now resolve to MAKE AFRICA THE PREFERRED DESTINATION FOR TOURISM.

I wish you all a fruitful roundtable and a great 2014 Tourism Indaba!

Statement by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission,
Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma on the occasion of the visit of Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, to the African Union
5 May 2014, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

 
Your Excellency, Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China,

Your Excellency Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,

Excellency the Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union,

Members of the Permanent Representatives Committee,

Members of the Chinese Delegation,

Colleagues of the AU Commission,

Invited Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Your Excellency Premier Li Keqiang,

The African Union considers today an important milestone in the historical relationship between Africa and China. This strategic and unique relationship is an expression of a long, deep and enduring solidarity between Africa and China. It was built in the long walk of Africa’s struggles against colonialism and foreign domination, and Africa’s pursuit for self-determination, freedom, justice, peace and prosperity. This visit, therefore, is an affirmation of the shared ideals and strong commitment we share to our collective destiny and that of humanity as a whole.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the headquarters of the African Union during your historic first visit to our beautiful continent.

We hope as you continue your journey from Ethiopia to three other African countries you will accumulate fond memories and have constructive engagements.

We consider Your Excellency’s presence with us today and your visit to some of our member states as a clear testimony not only of your personal interest in the African Union, but of the People’s Republic of China’s historical friendship and strong commitment to Africa.

The Africa Union considers China’s cooperation with Africa a model of a win-win partnership, based on mutual respect and aimed at producing tangible results in areas of common interest.

I would like to assure Your Excellency of our commitment to work with your government to carry this partnership and our friendship to new heights.

Your Excellencies,

We in African Union are determined together with our Member States to build a prosperous, integrated, people-centered Africa at peace with itself and taking its rightful place in the world stage.

Of course, our first priority is our people especially the Youth and Women. For us to archive the Africa we want, we have to educate, train and skill our people with special emphasis on science, technology, research and innovation, and also vocational training.

We have to train hundreds of engineers in almost every sector, town planners, agronomists to name but a few.

Secondly, food security through expanding and increasing of our agricultural production, agro processing and agri-business based on CAADP, so that we can be able to feed the growing population of Africa and also to feed the world.

Africa needs to transform its economy through industrialization, adding value to our natural and mineral resources has to be a critical element, so that we can create jobs for our young people and they can also create jobs.

Infrastructure, especially transport, energy, ICT, water and social infrastructure: this will assist us to increase intra African trade, facilitate movement of people and goods.

In our agenda2063, one of our dreams is to connect our continent with speed trains. We know China has great experience in this.

We have to facilitate and increase intra African trade and the movement of goods and people.

We must also work on “Silencing the guns” in Africa by 2020 so that we may enjoy peace, and concentrate more on development. And appreciate the cooperation on peace with China.

Empowerment of women to ensure that they participate in all areas of human endeavor is also a keep point. We have to campaign against the abduction on school girls because girls need education. Girls need to be at school. It is their right.

Through these progammes which are part of our agenda 2063, we shall be able to take our people out of poverty and develop and modernize our continent. In this regard we would like and appreciate the sharing experience with china on poverty reduction strategies, but also on modernising the continent as the example of China.

Your Excellency,

Africa welcomes the economic investments that the Chinese government and private sector are making in Africa and hope that this will increase in the coming year since returns from African investments are higher than in most places.

We in the African Union greatly appreciate China’s assistance to help us realize our goals of development, prosperity and peace for now and future generations.

The African Union is grateful to China for all the generous assistance that has been extended to the AUC and to its Member States, including this very building and planned extensions.

We would also like to thank the Prime Minister and the Government of Ethiopian, our host, for always being there when we need land.

Your Excellency,

During my official visit to China in February 2013, in the context of our Fifth Strategic Dialogue, we held productive meetings with various Chinese authorities and institutions, including the National Development and Reform Commission of China and the All-China Women’s Federation, on strengthening cooperation and sharing experience on women empowerment and socioeconomic development.

We commit ourselves to work with China to follow up on the specific actions we agreed to carry out together, including the implementation of the MoU that was signed today in this regard.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me to say a few words about FOCAC, the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation.

FOCAC has proved to be an indispensable and exemplary cooperation mechanism because it focuses on meeting the real needs of both partners in a constructive and tangible manner.

Both of us should accelerate the implementation of the Fifth FOCAC Declaration and Plan of Action for 2013-2015.

Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let us strengthen Africa and China’s cooperation and friendship for the benefit of both our citizens, but also for the benefit of humanity.

African economies are growing at a fast rate. Our natural resources – land and maritime – are abundant. It is therefore our fervent hope that our continent will soon become a preferred destination of Chinese public and private investments.

Your Excellencies,

Once again a very warm welcome to Africa and the AU headquarters, and wish you a very pleasant and constructive tour of Africa. And hope this tour will make you make more tours in Africa.

Thank you.