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Statement by H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma,

Chairperson of the AU Commission,

at the Tenth AU-RECs-ECA-AfDB Coordination Committee Meeting

23 January 2013, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Your Excellencies, Chief Executives of Regional Economic Communities,
Your Excellency, Executive Secretary of UNECA,
Your Excellency President of the African Development Bank,
Your Excellencies Commissioners,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour and privilege to welcome you to Addis Ababa - and this being my first time to attend this important meeting - I wish to thank you for the work in support of our collaboration.

This forum provides an opportunity to examine the progress so far achieved, discuss the key challenges facing the integration of our continent and share some thoughts on moving the process forward.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
Since we are about our core agenda of integration and development as continental institutions. We must address the central question of the Abuja Treaty: how “to increase African self-reliance and promote an endogenous and self-sustained development.” This is very true even today, to develop an endogenous and self-sustained development, because we have seen how many models of growth globally has come apart, so it is important that we find our own models of development.

We must help give direction as to how to move more swiftly to ensure that Africa becomes prosperous, integrated, peaceful and indeed a global growth-pole over the next few decades. This means that we cannot anymore be satisfied with small, incremental improvements, but we have to think and act bolder.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
This is an opportune moment, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the OAU/AU. This is an opportune moment to look at our achievements, to learn from the past, what we we could have done better. As the three organisations we have complementary mandates and therefore define our common agenda for the next fifty years. The RECs as building blocks for integration and development are critical in this process.
Given the scale and scope of global changes, it is therefore important that Africa reenergizes our momentum for integration and development, guided by its leadership in order to claim its renaissance in a very competitive, insecure and unequal world that we see today.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In this context, I am pleased to inform you that on 11 and 12 January this year, I had the honour and privilege of holding extensive discussions, with Dr. Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary, UNECA, and Dr. Donald Kaberuka, President of the AfDB on a range of topical issues.
Among other things, we reiterated the need to coordinate our activities in setting the agenda to support Africa’s socio-economic transformation as we commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU in May this year. We affirmed the spirit of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance, which inspired the political revolution of the continent in the last 50 years, and is now critical for realization of Africa’s socio-economic transformation.
We also reflected on the key challenges, opportunities and priorities facing Africa going forward, drawing on the past 50 years. We noted that Africa’s economic growth and development challenges require the need to focus on equity, inclusiveness, the preservation of natural capital and creation of decent jobs, especially for the youth and women. To support the vision of Africa’s leaders to transform the continent over the next 50 years, we re-affirmed the commitment by the three (3) Pan-African institutions to collaborate closely with RECs and other partners to foster the agenda of an integrated and prosperous continent with a view to realize Africa’s renaissance.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me at this juncture, set out and suggest the context or framework, within which we need to approach our important relationship, as we gather here today.
In my view, the framework has two important elements. One should be a frank acknowledgment of the many challenges we continue to face in fostering our integration agendas, and those that may arise, moving forward. Second, is the obvious need for a stronger commitment to manage these challenges in a straight-forward and constructive way, with the eye for the longer-term.
We also need to continue to deal with, as a matter of priority, issues related to global public goods including climate change, peace and security as well pressing challenges regarding youth and women unemployment. The way forward is to keep urging the leaders of our Member States on the need to accelerate the implementation of agreed decisions and actions.
Outside the provisions of our Protocol requesting us to formally meet twice a year, I think that the emergencies generated by our changing environment force upon us the need to often meet to agree and have common positions on specific agendas before meeting the external world and our partners. I would like also take this opportunity to invite you to fully participate in the elaboration of o the next AU Strategic Plan which is ongoing preparation.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am aware that a number of RECs represented here at this meeting have made substantial progress in a range of areas, but a great deal of work remains to be done. Among others, shortcomings in the removal of unnecessary barriers for movement of goods, services and labour, have root of the challenges. As a matter of priority, we need to tackle these surmountable challenges head-on, to realize of our dream for a united and deeply integrated continent.
May I recall that the central pillar of Africa’s integration process should be anchored on her people. Ordinary citizens should enjoy the benefits associated with regional integration, and in this connection, free movement of our citizens should be made a reality. Therefore, a central challenge of our everyday work should be to set favourable conditions that allow the skills and capabilities of our labour force, especially, the youth and women, to be fully exploited.
Excellences, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
On a more optimistic note I must emphasize that, among other positive developments, the establishment and continued strengthening of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area should give us a large of confidence, on what can be achieved, when we agree to synergize our limited resources and rich experiences. In this vein, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage other RECs represented here, to learn and emulate the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite FTA initiative that I just alluded to.
In conclusion, I wish to once again to applaud you for the tireless effort you continue to extend to the AU Commission, and the important relationship all of us have developed and nurtured over the years, in support of our integration agenda.
I have no doubt that there are many opportunities that can be seized which will enable us to reap the benefits of continental integration and sustainable economic prosperity for our people.
I encourage the members of the media present to interact and get information from the RECs.
I thank you for your kind attention.

Excellencies;

Ladies and gentlemen;

Looking at Africa’s political and security landscape, we have made significant strides in addressing the peace and security challenges on the continent. The marked improvement in the situation in Somalia, the consolidation of peace in a number of countries that emerged from conflict and the promising process leading to peaceful resolution of the crisis in the Central African Republic are cases in point, which deserve acknowledgement. We also seem to be making some progress in the resolution of the institutional crises in Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, while some North African countries that experienced tumultuous popular uprisings in 2011 are gradually stabilizing.

As we meet here today, and while we acknowledge these successes, we ought to reflect on the outstanding of peace and security challenges still facing the continent and devise appropriate strategies to overcome them, including addressing its root causes.

In Central Africa, the renewed insecurity situation since mid-2012 in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo should preoccupy our attention, while the Lord’s Resistance Army continues to pose a threat to security and stability in the affected countries.

Now, let me turn my focus on two specific situations on the agenda for this meeting, namely the situation between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan, and the situation in Mali.

The situation in Sudan and South Sudan poses a particular set of challenges to Africa – how to celebrate diversity while pursuing the goal of a united Africa, how to promote good neighbourliness and mutual viability between two states whose people are closely linked by geography and an often painful history, how to manage natural resources to the benefit of ordinary Africans, and how to build state capacity, institutions and infrastructure in situations where very little exists.

When South Sudan attained independence on 9 July 2011, there were a number of issues outstanding in defining its post-secession relations with Sudan, in particular security arrangements and the demarcation of their common border, the question of oil and economic arrangements, the final status of Abyei, and nationality and the status of citizens of one country resident in the other. The situation was further complicated by the outbreak of armed conflict in the Two Areas of South Kordofan and Blue Nile of Sudan around the time of South Sudan’s independence, between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM-North. The AU High Level Implementation Panel, with the support of Ethiopia as Chair of IGAD, as well as invaluable support from its Partners, has been working with the two governments to finalize agreement on outstanding issues in their post-secession relations.

In April 2012, long-simmering tensions along their undemarcated border led to the outbreak of fighting, and threatened to escalate into all-out war between the two states. It was in this context that this Council met on 24 April 2012, and adopted a Roadmap toward the reduction of tension and the resumption of negotiations between the two Parties to end the conflict and finalize all outstanding post-secession issues. In a very welcome move underscoring improved relations between the AU PSC and UNSC, the UN Security Council endorsed the Roadmap in its entirety. This was an example of total unity of purpose in the international community.

The High Level Implementation Panel is continuing to engage with the two states toward the full implementation of all elements in the AU Roadmap. On 27 September 2012, it succeeded in brokering a series of agreements between the two states on most outstanding matters. However, it is of great concern that the implementation of the signed Agreements is facing difficulties. It is my hope that this Council will call on the two states to urgently and unconditionally implement all aspects of the agreements which were mutually acceptable comprimises on both sides. President el Bashir and President Kiir have been courageous in reaching these agreements, and it is vital that we encourage them to remain steadfast in their search for peace, security and stability, in the interests of their citizens.

I would like to once again reiterate my profound gratitude, and the gratitude of the entire continent, to the tireless efforts of Presidents Thabo Mbeki, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Pierre Buyoya, as well as their staff, for their work in the last year. I would also like to thank Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn of Ethiopia for his vital support to the AUHIP’s efforts. I must also thank the AU’s partners, in particular the United Nations, for their unwavering support for the efforts of the AUHIP.

Excellencies

On the situation in Mali, I’m sure you are aware of the grave developments in the security situation in the country since early this month. On 9 January 2013, armed terrorist and criminal groups in northern Mali launched attacks against Malian government positions. This was a stark reminder of the dangers faced by the Malian state and the region as a whole in the continued activities of armed, terrorist and criminal groups in this region.

I issued a press release strongly condemning this renewed violence by armed groups and called on AU Member States, in line with the relevant decisions of the PSC and of the UN Security Council resolutions, to extend the necessary logistical, financial and capacity-building support to the Malian Defence and Security Forces. I wish to reiterate this call.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me at this point to express my gratitude and that of the Commission to ECOWAS for its unrelenting efforts in facilitating dialogue with armed groups with a view of resolving the Malian crisis peacefully. The AU has vigorously supported these efforts. I also thank ECOWAS Member States and other African countries that have or are making efforts for the deployment of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), which has been necessitated by the grave developments in northern Mali. The AFISMA operation was approved by the AU PSC on 13 November 2012 and subsequently mandated resolution 2085 (2012) of the UN Security Council. It is important to complement the ongoing efforts on the ground by a political process aimed at generating the broadest possible consensus among the Malian stakeholders on the key challenges facing their country.

Of course we are very grateful to France and the international community, that have stood with Mali at this trying moment. This timely intervention in Mali helped arrest the southward advance of armed groups and is still weakening their capabilities. The United Nations and the European Union merit also thanks for their efforts, both on-going and what we expect of them in the immediate, medium and long-term future. The same appreciation goes to all our other bilateral and multilateral partners.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Alongside the grave developments on the security front, some positive developments have been recorded in the resolution of the institutional crisis in Bamako. These developments are worth encouraging. Indeed, the appointment, by interim President Diouncounda Traoré, of a new Prime Minister, in the person of Mr. Diango Cissoko, and the formation of an inclusive government of national unity, on 15 December 2012, appears to have brought much needed coherence in the work of the transitional government. But enormous challenges still remain, including a clear and credible roadmap for the completion of the transitional process.

You may recall the various appeals by the PSC and ECOWAS, and UN Security Council resolutions calling on Member States and various organisations to contribute actively towards the mobilization of adequate support for the Malian Defense and Security Forces and AFISMA. Both need significant and urgent financial, logistical and technical support. In resolution 2085 (2012), adopted on 20 December 2012, the UN Security Council requested the Secretary-General to establish a Trust Fund through which Member States can provide support to AFISMA, and to the Malian Defense and Security Forces.

Based on the strong belief that we, the African Union and African peoples, need to be at the forefront of efforts to assist Member States in need of our help, the AU Commission is holding a pledging conference on 29 January to solicit contributions and mobilise financial, logistical and capacity building support for both the Malian Defense and Security Forces and AFISMA. We have extended invitations to all Member States as well as to a number of our international partners. We hope that Member States, as well as the international partners will contribute generously for this critical mission.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

These are some of the challenges that the continent faces and which require our determined and collective efforts in order to overcome them. It is imperative for the success of our efforts in all other fields, be it economic development or integration, health care, education or the promotion of science and technology. This is equally imperative for us to reach our lofty goal of freeing all the billon of Africans from fear and from want.

I thank you.