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Report of the Chairperson of the AUC on the 416th PSC meeting on the situation in South Sudan

I. INTRODUCTION

The present report is submitted in pursuance of communiqué PSC/AHG/COMM.1(CDXI) Rev.1 on the situation in South Sudan adopted by Council at its 411th meeting held in Banjul, The Gambia, on 30 December 2013, at the level of Heads of State and Government. The report provides an update on the evolution of the mediation efforts led by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the prevailing situation on the ground, as well as on the follow-up to the above-mentioned Council’s communiqué. The report concludes with observations on the way forward.
I. EVOLUTION OF THE IGAD-LED MEDIATION EFFORTS

At its Banjul meeting, I provided Council with an update on the IGAD-led mediation in the conflict in South Sudan. In particular, I highlighted the visit to Juba of an IGAD ministerial delegation, from 19 to 21 December 2013, as well as the visit undertaken, on 26 December 2013, by the Chairperson of IGAD, Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn of Ethiopia, and President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya. These visits were followed by the convening of the 23rd IGAD Extraordinary Summit, in Nairobi, on 27 December 2013. The Summit stressed the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and to take urgent measures towards an all-inclusive dialogue, including reviewing the status of the detainees in recognition of their role, in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Sudan. The Summit decided that face-to-face talks would commence by 31st December 2013.

In its Banjul communiqué, Council welcomed the IGAD communiqué of 27 December 2013. Notably, it demanded that the parties: immediately and unconditionally cease hostilities; engage in unconditional and inclusive dialogue, requesting, in this respect, that the Government of the Republic of South Sudan release all political leaders that are detained; ensure the protection of the civilian population and humanitarian workers; and put an immediate end to the mobilization of armed groups along ethnic lines and to any hostile and inflammatory message. On their part, the members of the United Nations Security Council, in a press statement issued on 30 December 2013, welcomed the IGAD Summit and the continued and essential engagement of IGAD to push for immediate dialogue among South Sudan leaders. The members of the Security Council also underlined and reiterated their call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for President Salva Kiir, former Vice-President Riek Machar and other political leaders to urgently engage in direct talks without preconditions.

As a follow-up to the IGAD communiqué of 27 December 2013 and the appeals made by the AU and the UN, as well as by other international stakeholders, the two parties, namely the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army - SPLM/A (in opposition), appointed negotiation teams. Following two-days of extensive proxy talks that sought to understand key issues, as well as agree on the agenda items and modalities for negotiations, the face-to-face talks began in Addis Ababa on 4 January 2014, facilitated by an IGAD Mediation Team chaired by Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin of Ethiopia and comprising General Lazaro Sumbeiywo of Kenya and General Mohammed Ahmed Moustafa El Dabi of Sudan. The talks focused on two agenda items: the cessation of hostilities and the question of the detainees. On the same day, I issued a press statement welcoming the beginning of the talks, stressing that ending the fighting in South Sudan was not only a humanitarian imperative but also a strategic necessity, in order to halt the rapid descent of Africa’s newest nation into full blown civil war. I expressed AU's full support for, and confidence in, the IGAD Mediation Team and its commitment to take all steps required to facilitate a successful conclusion of the negotiations.

On 6 January 2014, the two parties agreed on the basic documents that should guide the negotiations, namely the Rules of Procedure, the Terms of Reference and the Modalities of Engagement. Subsequently, the Mediation Team visited South Sudan on a number of occasions, to engage President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr. Riek Machar, as well as the detainees. During these meetings, President Kiir reiterated his Government’s commitment to the search for a political solution and to unconditional negotiations on the cessation of hostilities, so as to bring an end to the violence in his country. Dr. Riek Machar, while raising some concerns, expressed his readiness to cooperate with the Mediation Team and acknowledged the lead role of IGAD. On their part, the detainees expressed their support for the ongoing efforts, and stressed that their status should not be an impediment to reaching an agreement on the cessation of hostilities.

In a press statement issued on 10 January 2014, the members of the UN Security Council reiterated their strong support for the mediation efforts led by IGAD. They underlined their demand for President Salva Kiir and former Vice-President Riek Machar and other political leaders to demonstrate leadership by immediately agreeing to a cessation of hostilities and commencing a broader dialogue. In particular, they urged Mr. Machar to move forward and agree to a cessation of hostilities without any precondition. They requested the Government of the Republic of South Sudan to release all political leaders that are detained, in order to create an environment conducive for a successful dialogue.

At its 413th meeting held on 16 January 2014, Council reiterated its grave concern at the escalation of the political dispute into a full-fledged civil war, the deepening humanitarian crisis and the violations of human rights in the country. Council also reiterated its call for an immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities, as well as its call to the leaders of South Sudan to rise to the challenge of acting in a spirit of national interest and selfless patriotism. Council expressed full support and appreciation to the efforts being deployed by IGAD, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn of Ethiopia. Council also expressed appreciation to the IGAD Mediation Team, and urged the parties to extend full cooperation to it. Council welcomed the close coordination between the Mediation Team and the AU Commission and encouraged the Commission to take all necessary steps to enhance AU’s support to the IGAD-led efforts, including further interaction with the South Sudanese parties. Council further reiterated its determination to impose targeted sanctions against all those found to be obstructing peace and reconciliation efforts in South Sudan.

Based on its interaction with the parties, the Mediation Team submitted to them a draft Final Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities. The parties made contributions to the document proposed by the Mediation Team, which also made proposals regarding the issue of the detainees.

On 23 January 2014, in Addis Ababa, the Parties signed the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities and the Agreement on the Status of Detainees. The Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities revolves around the following elements: declaration of cessation of hostilities; cessation of hostile propaganda; protection of civilians; and humanitarian access. The Agreement also provides for a Monitoring and Verification Mechanism under the leadership of IGAD. The Agreement on the Status of Detainees, having acknowledged the role that the detainees can play in the ongoing dialogue in South Sudan, in line with the IGAD communiqué of 27 December 2013, commit the parties to the outcome of the peace process and to an all-inclusive dialogue to resolve the issues connected with the current crisis. It also commits the parties to establish an all-inclusive national reconciliation process, in which the detainees and other political actors, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders have a significant role to play.

II. FOLLOW-UP TO COUNCIL’S BANJUL COMMUNIQUE OF 30 DECEMBER 2013

As a follow-up to Council’s meeting in Banjul, the Commission forwarded the communiqué adopted on that occasion to the Parties, requesting them to keep it updated on the steps they would be undertaking in compliance with the demands contained therein. The communiqué was also formally transmitted to the Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers and Executive Secretary, as well as to the UN Secretary-General and Security Council, for information and action as may be appropriate. Both the Commissioner for Peace and Security and I had interactions with the Troïka (Norway, United Kingdom and United States) to exchange views with them on the situation and to update them on AU’s efforts pursuant to the Banjul communiqué of the Council.

The Commission also intensified its interaction with the IGAD Mediation Team. On 15 January 2014, I met with Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin, who updated me on the efforts being deployed in order to reach a cessation of hostilities and facilitate negotiations on the other aspects of the conflict. We agreed that the AU would be included in the Mediation Team in order to facilitate coordination. Furthermore, and following AU’s endorsement of the request made by IGAD, the EU, on 16 January 2014, agreed to provide financial support to the IGAD-led mediation process, within the framework of the Africa Peace Facility (APF).

On 20 January 2014, and as part of AU’s support to the IGAD-led efforts, I undertook a visit to Juba, accompanied by the Commissioner for Peace and Security. On that occasion, I met with President Salvar Kiir Mayardit, as well as with the detainees. In my interactions with both parties, I insisted on the need for them to urgently sign an agreement on the cessation of hostilities, so as to stop the senseless killings taking place in South Sudan and bring to an end the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in their country. While the parties offered different explanations on the root causes of the current crisis, both nevertheless agreed that the fundamental issue is a political problem within the ruling party, which requires a political rather than a military solution. They also agreed on the urgency of an immediate and unconditional signing of a cessation of hostilities agreement to stop the killing and the suffering of the people of South Sudan. In this regard, the detainees reiterated their position that their release should not be used as a pre-condition for the conclusion of the cessation of hostilities agreement.

In its Banjul communiqué, Council requested me, in consultation with the Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) and other relevant AU structures, to urgently establish a Commission of inquiry to investigate the human rights violations and other abuses committed during the armed conflict in South Sudan and make appropriate recommendations on the best ways and means of ensuring accountability, reconciliation and healing among all South Sudanese communities. As a follow-up to this decision, the Commission has since taken steps to develop the terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry, select its members and mobilize the necessary support for the effective discharge of its mandate.

I seized the opportunity of my visit to Juba to explain to the parties the decision taken by Council on the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry. I stressed that the inquiry would be an African-led process and would aim to address the plight of the victims of human rights violations and to assist the Government and people of South Sudan to identify the elements that are needed to strengthen the institutions of their young nation, while providing reconciliation and healing opportunities to its diverse people and ensuring sustainable peace. In so doing, the inquiry would build on African experience and act within the framework of relevant AU instruments. Both parties supported the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry along the terms that I described and discussed with them, and undertook to collaborate with the inquiry. In its press statement of 10 January 2014, the members of the UN Security Council welcomed Council’s decision to establish the Commission of Investigation to ensure accountability, reconciliation and healing among all South Sudanese communities, while also demanding that all human rights violations and abuses should seize and stressing that those responsible will be held accountable. The UN Security Council also welcomed and encouraged the efforts of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to monitor, investigate, verify and report the abuses.

III. EVOLUTION OF THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND

Since the conflict began on 15 December 2013, it has spread to various parts of the country, particularly to the Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states. At the time of compiling this report, the forces of the Government of South Sudan had recaptured the major cities that were under the control of the rebel forces, including Bor, in the Jonglei State, Malakal, in the Upper Nile State, and Bentui, in Unity State.
As a result of the fighting, the humanitarian situation has further deteriorated since my last report to Council. On 12 January 2014, over 200 people died after the boat that they were using to escape to safety from Malakal capsized in the Nile River. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), 494,000 people have been internally displaced since the conflict started on 15 December 2013, while 89,100 people have crossed into neighbouring countries, with over half of them to Uganda. The number of people sheltering in UN peacekeeping bases across the country is estimated at 66,900, with the largest concentrations in Malakal and in Juba. So far, the humanitarian aid agencies have been able to assist an estimated 204,500 people. According to the UN, US$105 million is needed to meet the immediate requirements under the South Sudan Crisis Response Plan. The total requirements for humanitarian action in South Sudan in 2014 stand at US$1.4 billion.
IV. OBSERVATIONS

During the period under review, the situation on the ground has continued to be a cause for serious concern. Since the beginning of the conflict, thousands of people have been killed, while others died trying to escape the violence. Tens of thousands of people have sought protection in the UNMISS camps. Overall, more than half a million have fled their homes. The conflict has caused needless bloodshed and destruction, and it has set back the cause of development and democracy in South Sudan, while impacting negatively on the wider region.

Against this background, I welcome the signing of the Agreements on Cessation of Hostilities and the Status of Detainees. This marks a first and significant step towards the search for a lasting solution to the conflict in South Sudan. I commend the parties for the spirit of compromise and mutual accommodation that they have demonstrated in the course of the negotiations. I call on them to faithfully and fully implement the commitments they have made, so as to rapidly improve the humanitarian situation on the ground, including by facilitating unfettered and secured access by humanitarian aid agencies to all the people who are in urgent need for assistance, especially women, children and the elderly. The importance of the early establishment and operationalization of the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism provided for in the Agreement cannot be overemphasized. I urge the parties to extend full cooperation to IGAD. It is critical that the parties, building on the progress made, engage in the envisaged all-inclusive political dialogue with the required commitment and leadership, in order to address the underlying causes of the conflict, and recommit themselves to rebuilding their young nation.

I would like to, once again, express the AU’s appreciation for the continued commitment and leadership of IGAD and to its Chair, Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn of Ethiopia, as well as to the other Heads of State and Government of the region. I hail the perseverance and untiring efforts of the IGAD Mediation Team, which made possible the signing of the Agreements of 23 January 2014. I reiterate AU's commitment to continue supporting the IGAD-led efforts and to actively follow up on the relevant decisions of Council notably through the early operationalization of the Commission of Inquiry to investigate human rights violations committed in the course of the conflict, with a view to ensuring accountability and promoting reconciliation and healing.

I must also acknowledge the tremendous support extended by international partners to the mediation efforts. I have no doubt that we can continue to rely on their support, and I urge them to continue to use their influence on the parties to help find a lasting solution to the conflict. I must also acknowledge the humanitarian assistance being extended to the affected populations. I call for renewed efforts to mobilize additional resources to meet the humanitarian needs on the ground.

Statement by Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to the Twenty-fourth Ordinary Session of the Executive Council

Addis Ababa, 27th January, 2014.

 
Your Excellency, Dr Tedros Adhanom, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the Executive Council;

Honourable Ministers, Members of the Executive Council;

Your Excellency, Dr. Carlos Lopez, UN Economic Commission for Africa;

Your Excellency, Dr. Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank;

The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr Erastus Mwencha;

The Commissioners of the African Union Commission;

Your Excellencies Ambassadors, Members of the Permanent Representatives Committee;

Your Excellencies, Executive Secretaries of the Regional Economic Communities;

Your Excellencies, leadership of AU Organs,

Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Representatives of International Organisations and all our Partners;

Distinguished Invited Guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are honoured, once again, to welcome you to this 24th ordinary session of the Executive Council, which will take stock of work done and deliberate on issues important to our Continent. Let me also take this opportunity to wish all Ethiopians, a happy St Gabriel’s day.

This is the first Executive Council that takes place in the first year of the second fifty years of our Union, and will lay the foundation for 2063.

I also want to welcome back the Malagasy delegation, who after a long suspension is rejoining our family.

Having just concluded our Anniversary year, held under the theme Pan Africanism and African Renaissance, we are looking towards the future, a future we are building today.

Our collective reflections during 2013 on the experiences and lessons from the broad Pan African movement, pointed towards the importance of clarity of purpose and unity in action to achieve our common goals.

As that eminent Pan Africanist, who sadly left us last year, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela used to say: ‘it is impossible, until it is done.’ I am sure we can do the impossible.

During 2013 we not only looked back, but we also looked towards the future and what must be done to realize our vision of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena”.

We did this through our consultations on Agenda 2063, and posing the questions to Africans from all walks of life and formations: What Africa do we want? How do we build this Africa? And lastly, What role will we play towards the realization of this dream?

Excellencies, we just emerged from the Bahir Dar retreat of the Executive Council, which we will report on during the course of this Ordinary session. Our Foreign Ministers during three days of spirited engagements also grappled with these questions – what is the Africa we want, and how do we build it?

The AU Commission and the various AU Organs and Committees, in reports to this Summit on our work during 2013, will no doubt respond to the question of how we contribute towards the building of the Africa we want.

The Executive Council at this session will elect new members to the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. It will also discuss the various items proposed by Member States.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Fellow Africans

Looking ahead towards 2014, which is the first year of the next fifty years of our Union, there are a number of critical matters facing us, which must be done this year.

Firstly, we are presenting the Agenda 2063 Framework document to this Summit, to be followed by national consultations and feedback in each of our Member States. In addition, we should also complete the technical work on the framework, further consultations and widespread popularization of the Framework.

On behalf of the Commission, we thank everyone who during 2013 responded to the call of defining the Africa they want: from the Girl Guides to the All Africa Council of Churches, business persons, young people, women, trade unions, students, intellectuals, the list goes on.

There is still a big window of opportunity for further inputs, and we again call on all Africans and peoples of African descent in the Diaspora to contribute to this call of defining the Africa they want.

We must ensure that by the time the Summit in July adopts the Framework, it reflects views from all countries and sectors of our continent, and that Agenda 2063 indeed becomes our lodestar of action.

Excellencies,

2014 is “The Year of Agriculture and Food Security” and we shall also mark the 10th Anniversary of the adoption of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

For Africa to ensure sustained and inclusive growth of 7% and higher, agriculture and agro-processing are critical, since it constitutes a large part of the GDP’s of our continent. The CAADP goals of increasing agricultural investment and productivity, of growing agro-business and value chains, of expanding infrastructure, skills and research for agriculture, are all part of what needs to be done for this year.

We must also take practical steps to ensure that Africa’s has a greater say on the pricing of our agricultural goods and products.

In particular, we will take special measures to ensure that women, who are the largest part of the agricultural work force and food producers, have access to training and capital, and are supported to form cooperatives, marketing structures and agribusinesses. Without this push, we will not succeed in this much needed African agrarian revolution.

The Commission will therefore during this year, in all the work that it does, focus on these matters, working with other continental bodies such as the UNECA and the African Development Bank, with Regional Economic Communities, Member States, Civil society and others.

Excellencies

Africa during 2014 will continue to carve its rightful place in the world. In this regard, we have important partnership meetings coming up, many of whom have on their agendas matters critical to Africa’s transformation.

Top of the agenda, of course, is the matter of trade and the economic relations between Africa and the rest of the world.

We are today more convinced than ever, that we shall not succeed in eradicating poverty, disease, conflict and hunger and provide a better life for the peoples of our continent, unless we have greater integration of our economies, unless we start beneficiating our minerals and industrialize, increase our agricultural production and process our products.

Our partnership with the world must therefore enhance, rather than undermine these priorities. During 2014, we must vow to remain united in our common approaches, and not allow individual countries to be isolated or intimidated into signing agreements that are against integration and against the interests of their peoples and their development.

The proposals on common African positions on the post-2015 development agenda, as well as the sustainable development goals and reports on the Bali round of trade negotiations and the Warsaw COP19 will also serve before this Summit. We are in a stronger position to harmonize our common positions and engage on these issues, because Agenda 2063 provides us with an overarching vision of where we want to go and what needs to be done.

The UN Secretary General during our visit to the Sahel region last year mentioned that during 2015, the critical negotiations on the post-2015 development goals and climate change needs to be concluded. We must as Africa vow that we will have a strong voice in these negotiations, and we must prepare and mobilise our citizenry and civil society to strengthen the African voice and positions.

We are further reminded that 2015 will be twenty years since the first historic Beijing Women’s Conference, and it will also be the midway point for the African Decade of Women. African women had a very active presence during the 1985 Conference, and we certainly have come some way since then.

During 2014 we must however consolidate and accelerate these gains, so that the African goal of gender parity by 2020, and the building of a non-sexist Africa, becomes a reality and a key pillar of Agenda 2063.

Excellencies, Fellow Africans

During our 50th Anniversary summit in May last year, we made a pledge to our people, that we shall not bequeath to future generations the scourge of wars and conflicts, and that we will work tirelessly to silence all guns by 2020.

During 2013 we made notable progress in Somalia, Mali and Madagascar, whilst at the same time confronted the tragedy of Central African Republic and Southern Sudan. In all these instances, the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities, with the help of the international community, acted together to help these countries find peace, and to create a climate for lasting solutions to their conflicts.

We must continue to emphasis that if we want to silence all the guns by 2020, we must build inclusive and tolerant societies, manage our diversity, ensure forgiveness and reconciliation and respect for human rights. At the same time, we must act against impunity, hence the recommendation before this Summit to expand the powers of the African Court for People’s and Human Rights.

The cost of conflicts and internal strife are too huge, in the devastation of human lives and sufferings and at the cost of our development. We must therefore continue to create climates for peace and stability, including effective, democratic and accountable governance and institutions, and by ensuring development and shared prosperity.

Honourable Ministers and Delegates

The priorities that we set for ourselves as a continent cannot be realized without strong institutions, without African resource mobilization, without unity of the continent and the mobilization and participation of its peoples.

The AU Commission early this year will act to take some of the difficult decisions to ensure that it improves its institutional effectiveness, and we look forward to your support in this regard. In a similar vein, the Bahir Dar Retreat urged us to take the necessary steps to identify and strengthen the other institutions key to African integration.

We will also this year focus on the issue of domestic resources mobilization, including initiatives we have decided on such as the ADB’s Africa50 Fund for infrastructure, the AU Foundation and the African Remittances Institute.

In addition, at the end of March the meeting of Ministers of Finance, Economy and Planning will meet in Abuja, to consider how to take forward the proposals on Alternate sources of Funding from the High Level Panel chaired by President Obasanjo as well as the joint AU/ECA report of the High-level Panel chaired by former President Mbeki on the Illicit outflows of capital and resources from the continent.

Excellencies, we must continue to build a People’s Union, strengthen our communications and ensure that we inform and involve the African citizens and civil society in the programmes and positions of the Union.

In this regard, we are very proud to host at this Summit, the Inter-generational dialogue between our Heads of State and young people, and the African World Heritage Foundation.

We promised that we will have this dialogue with the youth at their request during the 50th anniversary last year, and we look forward to this as an annual event.

The African World Heritage Foundation is an important African initiative, to preserve and promote our history and cultural heritage for current and future generations, and fostering the spirit and values of Pan Africanism.

In conclusion, let me reiterate the importance of this meeting in guiding us on the various issues that confront our continent and in helping us plan ahead, prioritize and implement the policies of the Union. We look forward to your deliberations and wish you every success Executive Council meeting.

Asante Sana

Remarks
By
H.E. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the Executive Council of the African Union
At
The First Ministerial Retreat of the African Union

24 January 2014
Bahir Dar

Excellencies Ministers,
Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission,
Excellency Dr. Carlos Lopes, Under Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of UNECA,
Excellency Dr. Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank,
Excellency Mr. Kandeh Yumkella, Chairperson of UN- Energy,

Invited Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is indeed a great pleasure to warmly welcome you all to Bahir Dar - a city located on the southern shore of Lake Tana which is the largest lake in Ethiopia and the source of the Blue Nile. I would like to thank you for attending this Retreat, which demonstrates your commitment to the advancement of the objectives of our continental organization. Let me also take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the Amhara National Regional State and the city of Bahir Dar for all their support and cooperation in the organization of this Retreat.

Colleagues,

The reason why we are having this Retreat in Bahir Dar is to escape from the formalities of Addis Ababa and hold a frank exchange of views in a relaxed atmosphere without any attribution. At the same time, we also wanted you, brothers and sisters, to have the opportunity to travel outside of Addis Ababa and witness the progress that is happening in other part of Ethiopia.
Bahir Dar is, of course, one of the cities in Ethiopia that are showing rapid transformation in recent years. The city is indeed a microcosm of the dramatic change that is taking place in our country. With its various attractions including Lake Tana and the Blue Nile, Bahir Dar is also a major tourist destination and I hope you will find time to explore what this beautiful city has to offer. On our part, I would like to assure you that we will do everything possible to make your brief stay in Bahir Dar as much productive and enjoyable as possible.

Colleagues,

We are gathered here today to map out our vision for the next fifty years and set our milestones to get there. This is part of our collective reflection as we continue to mark the Golden Jubilee celebration of the OAU/AU in this year of Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance. As we have clearly set out in our objectives, this is the time to do a serious soul searching -not so much to dwell on the past but to learn from it and chart a better future.
In this context, the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank have developed a framework document, through a wide consultative process, outlining "Agenda 2063: A shared Strategic Framework for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development". We will, therefore, brainstorm on this framework document with a view to further enriching it before its final adoption at the 23rd ordinary session of the Assembly in June/July 2014.

Colleagues,

As we embark on our collective reflection, I believe we need to ask ourselves where we want Africa to be over the next fifty years. What kind of Africa do we want to bequeath to the next generation? What should we do to realize the African Renaissance? These have indeed been major preoccupations for politicians and academicians alike for quite some time. Obviously, we cannot predict the future but we can anticipate some of the mega trends in the coming years and decades.
Our Founding fathers, in their wisdom and foresight, laid out a vision for Africa in 1963 when they signed the Charter establishing the Organization of African Unity - a vision for the total liberation of the continent from all forms of subjugation as well as the promotion of unity and solidarity among African States to achieve a better life for the peoples of Africa.
Today, it is gratifying to note that Africa has been liberated with the exception of some territories but we could say much progress has been made to ensure the freedom and dignity of our peoples. However, achieving the economic emancipation of Africa remains a daunting challenge. Various policies and strategies have been tried and tested in the past but we all know that they did not succeed in taking us to the Promised Land. Therefore, what lesson could we draw from our past experiences as well as the success of other developing countries as we strive to change the plight of our people and ultimately realize the African Renaissance. This is the issue that we need to address as we look forward into Africa's future.
Of course, the progress achieved over the last decade in promoting peace and stability as well as ensuring rapid economic growth has rekindled a new sense of hope and optimism that Africa's renewal and rejuvenation is beginning to happen. However, there is need to sustain the momentum by consolidating peace and stability in our continent and accelerating rapid economic growth with a view to bringing about the desired structural transformation. It is also very critical, as recent developments have made it evident, for us to acknowledge the deficit we continue to face in governance and democratization whose solution, is indispensable for the realization of our aspiration.

Colleagues,

If we want to claim the 21st century as ours and realize the African Renaissance, there is a need for a paradigm shift in our political and socio-economic governance and development. Leadership is no doubt very critical - a capable leadership which is free from rent seeking behavior, fully committed to Africa's transformation agenda and tirelessly works to break the vicious cycle of poverty and bring about sustainable development and prosperity for his/her people.
But leadership alone is not sufficient; all sections of the African society should embrace the vision and mobilize themselves to contribute their share towards its realization. There is, therefore, a need to have a critical mass of people with a developmental mindset so as to set the stage for take-off. Here is where institutions of democratic governance and their strengthening are so critical. Institutions built on rules of law are what will ensure people are mobilized for achieving common goals and for realizing long-term agendas such as Agenda 2063, which call for continuity that can only be ensured by robust institutions. Over and above that, we need to have a favorable global environment to achieve our vision and we should properly analyze our challenges and threats as we strive to meet our goals.

Colleagues,

It is within this broader framework that we will examine Agenda 2063 during this Retreat. We have selected five sub-themes to guide our discussion on this issue of paramount significance to the future of our continent. There will be lead speakers who are intimately involved in the crafting of Agenda 2063 and/or are knowledgeable on the issues. They will help us in putting the issues in perspective for our discussion and I look forward to your active participation.
Finally, I hope this Ministerial Retreat will achieve its objective in stimulating debate on Agenda 2063 and I am confident that your valuable contribution will further enrich the framework document. I conclude my brief remarks by wishing you a pleasant stay in Bahir Dar.

I thank you

Opening remarks to the Opening session of Retreat of the Executive Council by HE Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission Bahir Dar, 24-26 January 2014
Your Excellency, Dr. Tedros, Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the Executive Council
Your Excellencies Foreign Ministers and Members of the Executive Council
Dr. Carlos Lopez, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
Honorable President of the Amhara National Region State
Excellencies, Chairperson and Members of the PRC and Officials from the Capitals
Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission, HE Erastus Mwencha and fellow Commissioners,
AU Commission staff
Ladies and Gentlemen

We sincerely thank our host country, the Honourable Minister for bringing outside of Addis Ababa, to this beautiful part of Ethiopia. Our appreciation to the authorities, the Honourable Mayor and his team, for welcoming us to Bahir Dar and the Amhara national region state and for the hospitality extended to us.
Bahir Dar is a living testimony that the growth and development recorded by Ethiopia over the last few years are not only restricted to the capital, but touches all corners of the country. Indeed the country as a whole is moving towards the target set in its National Development plan of reaching middle-income status by 2025. We congratulate the people of this city and region for these efforts, which can serve as an example for many regions of our continent.
Excellencies
Retreats such as these, especially at the level of the Executive Council, have been used to discuss issues pertinent to our continent that are complex and required in-depth and innovative reflection.
Having just emerged from the collective reflections on Pan Africanism and African Renaissance that grounded our Golden Jubilee celebrations, as we look ahead towards the next fifty years, we again have the opportunity to revisit some of the debates, in a more relaxed and convivial atmosphere.
Excellencies, retreats take place under different conditions from formal meetings. It must, therefore, provide space for all of us to step out of our comfort zones, and to think and indeed dream about our continent.
We are gathered in a retreat of the Executive Council to reflect on a critical matter before the Union and our people – about the future we want, the Agenda 2063. This retreat comes after a year of robust consultations with civil society on the future they want.
As Foreign Ministers of our countries and indeed as citizens of this great continent, we may well share some of the aspirations articulated by civil society.
At the same time, the Executive Council is an important collective body of opinion within the Union, which in its composition and outlook embodies the aspirations of Pan Africanism and the African Renaissance, coupled with a bird’s eye view of Africa’s place in the world.
The decision of the Chairperson of the Executive Council to have this retreat is therefore well-timed: to enable this august body to add its collective contribution towards the Africa we want and the milestones we must set towards this end.
In conclusion, I hope our contributions will be free- flowing, frank, inspirational, daring, challenging and provocative. The contributions are not national or official positions as such, but must be contributions that will inspire us towards the Africa we want, that is integrate, peaceful and prosperous.
I wish the retreat fruitful deliberations and interesting outcomes.