Department FrontPage

REMARKS BY H.E. MRS RHODA PEACE TUMUSIIME
COMMISSIONER OF RURAL ECONOMY AND AGRICULTURE
ON THE OCCASION OF THE AFRICAN AGRICULTURE STATUS REPORT BOOK LAUNCH
MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE, 4th SEPTEMBER, 2013
9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Honourable Jose Pacheco, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Mozambique
Honourable Ministers of other AU Member States
Mr. Strive Masiyiwa, VICe Chair AGRA Board
Ms. Jane Karuku, AGRA President
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

I feel privileged to be part of this important occasion of the launch of the Africa Agriculture Status Report 2013: Focusing on Staple Crops.

I also feel happy to make a few remarks on the same.

1. The African Union Commission, through its Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture which I head, commends the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa for its support in the implementation of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme that was adopted by AU Heads of State in 2003 in Maputo where they committed to allocate at least 10% of their annual national budgets to agriculture for achieving at least 6% Annual Agriculture Growth.

2. In January 2012, the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government declared 2014 The AU Year of Agriculture and Food Security that will also be coinciding with the 10 years of CAADP. We call upon all of you to mobilise all stakeholders in the series of activities that the AU has lined up to mark 2014.

3. The partnership which the African Union Commission has with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa will further be strengthened through the Memorandum of Understanding which we will be signing as part of the programme of the African Green Revolution Forum 2013. We will be committing ourselves to work more closely together.

4. This book brings out a number of success stories on input and output markets and as the book notes, the right use of appropriate technologies and innovations, resulting from research and policies gives a higher potential to improve the use of factors of production for increasing agricultural production, productivity, food and nutrition security and, indeed, this will lead to poverty eradication through better access to markets. As you saw from the video, majority of our people depend on agriculture. If you have over 70% of the population depending on this sector, then, as the book indicates, this is the sector to invest in if one is to lift them out of poverty and deliver them prosperity.

5. I appreciate the fact that a Chapter is dedicated to women and youth, climate change smart agriculture, use of ICT, agricultural education and training, access to finance among other cross cutting issues.

6. Therefore, this Status Report that we are launching today is timely and will respond to the needs for our policy makers to be adequately informed for setting the appropriate policy priorities for the Development of Africa’s Agriculture and ensures that all these effort are done within the CAADP Framework through sharing experiences from best practices and success stories across the continent. I commend the work of AGRA, Jane, in leading the effort that culminated in this valuable report, with your very capable team. I hope we should be able to chart a way forward together to get this data and information for policy makers and practitioners.

7. I am glad that this work of bringing out success stories and experience sharing has been undertaken through the framework of CAADP which we all subscribe to

Thank you.

Statement by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, HE Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to the BRICS Business Council Luncheon, Sandton, Johannesburg. 20 August 2013

Key Note Speech by the Commissioner, Political Affairs, African Union Commission, Dr. Aisha L. Abdullahi at the National Conference on Religious Tolerance and Coexistence in Ethiopia, 27 August 2013

Your Excellency, Mr.HailemariamDessalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;

Your Excellences’ Deputy Prime Ministers;

Honourable Ministers, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,

Distinguished Members of Ethiopia Inter Religious Council

Head of Religious Institutions present

Excellences’ Ambassadors and Heads of Diplomatic Missions

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning!

On behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H. E Dr. NkosazanaDlamini-Zuma, I would liketo express my profound gratitude to the Ethiopian Ministry of Federal Affairs, and the Ethiopian Inter Religious Council (EIRC) for inviting the African Union Commission to this important Conference. I bring you greetings and a message of goodwill from the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, who would have loved to have been with you this morning but due to other commitments requested that I represent her and I was more than glad to oblige.As many of you may recollect, this joint noble mission between the Ethiopian Ministry of Federal Affairs and the Ethiopian Inter Religious Council (EIRC) commenced in January 2010. I am particularly glad that the two critical stakeholderscontinue to work together to promote religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence in the country.

Your Excellency,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Historically speaking, religion has been one of the most progressive agents of peace, and peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic and social groups in the world.Although religion may differ in approach and methodologies, one thing remains common to all, particularly the ones that are currently active in Africa, and that is the campaign for, and preaching of love and peaceful co-existence among the citizens.

Recently however,some of the conflicts and crises that our continent is experiencing today are not unconnected with ethnic and religious intolerance. The ongoing Islamic militants in the Sahel and the activities of the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda and the DRC are examplesthat readily come to mind. The effects of religious crisis on national development, peace and harmony cannot be overemphasized. Innocent lives are lost, the social fiber is shredded, national development is stunted, and foreign investments are discouraged. It is on this note that we cannot afford to handle religious intolerance with levity.

There are various ways a country can prevent religious and ethnic conflict crises. One of these includes adequate provisions and effective implementation of the provisions in the national Constitution. The Ethiopian Constitutionprovides for religious equality and beliefs. It also guarantees non-interference of the Government in religious activities.We therefore need to put effort to ensure that these provisions are effectively implemented. This Conference provides us an opportunity to implement the progressive provisions on religious matters in the Constitution.

Your Excellency
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Another way to overcome ethnic intolerance and conflict crises in any country is by putting in place, a national formal framework that promotes peaceful co-existence and inclusivity among the various religious and ethnic groups. I congratulate the Government of the Republic of Ethiopia and the various key religious leaders in this great country for recognizing this fact, and for theteaming up these two key stakeholders to promote national peace and sustainable unity.

The principles of tolerance, empathy, sharing and dialogue, to mention but a few are fundamentaltonational peaceful co-existence and development in any country. I am happy that these principles are recognized by the Government of Ethiopia and they form the basis of the Ethiopian Inter-Religious Council formation.It is on this note that I commend the formation of the Ethiopia Inter Religious Council, and the promotion ofconstructive relationship thatbetween the Council and the Government of Ethiopia.

As some of you may be aware, the Department of Political Affairs of the African Union Commission has the mandate of promoting the entrenchment of Democracy, holding of credible Elections, Human Rights, and Governance, constitutionalism and rule of law, and the Humanitarian Affairs on the continent.
Our overall objective is to promote good governance, peaceful coexistence among the citizens, and deepening of human rights practices among the AU Member States. In doing this, the Department has facilitated the promulgation of several normative frameworks to accomplish the above missions; these include the African Charter on Democracy, Election and Governance and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

Time will not permit me to take us through all the relevant provisions of these instruments on the issue at hand, but please permit to cite Article 28 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. It provides that every individual shall have the duty to respect and consider his fellow beings without discrimination (including religious, ethnic, and Cultural), and to maintain relations aimed at promoting, safeguarding and reinforcing mutual respect and tolerance.If this provision is adopted and implemented, peaceful coexistence in all aspect of life will be guaranteed.

In the same vein, Chapter three of the AU Charter on Democracy, Election and Governance also provide for democratic principles that recognize respect for human and religious rights. In order to ensure effective operationalization of this provision, my department has been working across the continent campaigning for the signing, ratification and implementation of the Charter to promote peaceful co-existence and tolerance among the various religious and ethnic groups in Africa.DPA did not stop there, it has also developed a Human Rights Strategy to promote and protect religion rightsand tolerance on the continent.

Effective implementation of the above two AU Instruments will not only promote national renaissancein Ethiopia, it will also contribute to actualization of Pan Africanism and AfricanRenaissance.

Your Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen,
On Humanitarian Affairs, Refugee and Displace Persons, the Department’s experience, has shown that religious intolerance has significantly contributed to the increase in the number of Refugee Camps and Displaced Persons in Africa. This experience has not been pleasant. With this type of Conference, I am optimistic that Africa is on the right path to overcoming the challenge of Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons caused by religious crisis on the continent.

Whilst the DPA has been working tirelessly to improve the conditions of the Refugees and internally displaced persons on the continent. This work requires huge human and financial resources. Africa is today spending Millions of Dollars on Refugees and Internally displaced persons. We can reduced the quantum of these tragedies if all the AU Member States domesticate and implement accordingly the above two normative frameworks on good governance and human rights.Your Excellency, it is on this note that I am calling on the Government of Ethiopia to ratify the African Charter on Democracy, Election and Governance and to implement accordingly, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

As we look forward at the level of the Commission to partner with the Government of Ethiopia and EIRC on this noble mission, I am optimistic that the country’s long history of religious tolerance, hospitality, peaceful co-existence and respect among the different religious communities will be sustained.

Before I conclude this remarks, Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen,let me on behalf of the African Union Commission express my profound appreciation and gratitude to the Ethiopia Ministry of Federal Affairs and the Ethiopia Inter Religious Council for organizing this conference and for inviting the Commission to take part in the event.

Finally, the commitment to the promotion of religious tolerance, peaceful co-existence and mutual respect among the various religious groups in the country will go a long way to promote national unity and sustainable peace and development

I wish you all a fruitful deliberations and outcomes.

I thank you.

Message by Her Excellency Dr. Aisha Abdullahi , Commissioner for Political Affairs
African Union Commission on the Occasion of the Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on The Rights of Women in Africa
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
August 2013

STATEMENT BY H.E. DR. MUSTAPHA S. KALOKO, COMMISSIONER FOR SOCIAL AFFAIRS

AT THE MINISTERIAL FORUM ON CHINA-AFRICA HEALTH DEVELOPMENT, BEIJING, CHINA, AUGUST 16, 2013

PROTOCOL
Permit me, on behalf of the African Union Commission and the 54 (fifty-four) Member States of the African Union, to express my sincere thanks and profound appreciation to the Government and the people of the People’s Republic of China for their splendid generosity, renowned hospitality and elegant but purposeful arrangements.
I am more than grateful to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for hosting this remarkable Ministerial Forum on China-Africa Health Development in this great and beautiful city of Beijing.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In February this year, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Madam Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma attended the Fifth China-Africa Strategic Dialogue here in Beijing. During that visit, the Chairperson of the Commission underscored the importance of Africa’s partnership with China and the gains the continent as well as China could accrue from the partnership. Her tribute to the strong partnership and cooperation between Africa and China was an echo from what many Africans and Chinese have said and continue to say about the partnership between the two peoples. Since then, many meetings have been held in Africa as well as here in China between Africans and Chinese from both the public and private sectors. Those various meetings are significant layers of our efforts building upon the strong foundation of decades of engagement between China and the continent of Africa.
What does this signify? It signifies that several years of cooperation have shown that China is a reliable partner, a dependable ally and a staunch and sincere believer in South-South Cooperation. It also suggests that China is a willing partner that is neither constrained nor compelled to embrace Africa. To those who do not understand this relationship, they must look to the past to understand it better. But for us (Chinese and Africans), we understand it and we know it. Our past colonial humiliations, our passion for development, our cravings for a fair international environment and our ardent desire to markedly enhance the lives of our citizens, have made the partnership more endearing and enduring.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
This brings me to the purpose of our presence here in Beijing: enhancing the lives of our citizens by prioritizing health.
“Health”, as Lao Tzu, has stated, “is the greatest possession”. No individual and no nation can ever hope to live in peace, happiness and prosperity without prioritizing such a great possession. In today’s world, where diseases are no respecters of national boundaries, laws and sovereignty; where multiple drug resistance tuberculosis, Corona virus, bird flu, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases are comfortably at home anywhere, it is but just and imperative for concerted global efforts to be scaled up to ensure health financing, universal access and coverage, available, affordable and efficacious lifesaving commodities, strengthening of health systems and investing in preventive care and disease control.
Africa is more than aware of the importance of prioritizing health. This year alone, we have had several meetings on health within and outside the continent. The major ones being the Conference of African Minister of Health in Addis Ababa in April, the Special Summit on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria in Abuja in July and the International Conference on Maternal and Child Health in Johannesburg in August. In those meetings, we arrived at various outcomes and relevant indicators that set Africa’s health agenda which are all meant to feed into our post 2015-development agenda and Agenda 63.
China, as a trustworthy partner, is aware of the continent’s health aspirations. It has followed Africa’s health development agenda with keen interest, with great concern and with a helping hand ever since the first Chinese Medical Team set foot on the African Continent. Since then, Africa has benefitted and continues to benefit from Chinese generosity and contributions toward strengthening of Africa’s health system by investing in the continent’s health infrastructure, training of medical practitioners and providing the required equipment to enhance service delivery of Africa’s health facilities.
China, as a consistent and dependable partner, is also conscious of Africa’s ambition to greatness, peace and prosperity. She knows that to attain such greatness, the continent must invest in the health of its citizens. She is aware of Africa’s pains, struggles and trials in lifting the continent’s people from the mire of infectious and other diseases. She knows too well, how we have battled against those diseases and how far we have come
China knows about our efforts and our ambition to fight poverty and diseases. She knows how hard we have worked toward meeting our objectives and how earnestly we intend to move forward. China understands (for example) why we want to implement the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa (PMPA). She knows that when it is implemented, it would provide us the opportunity to produce efficacious, affordable and essential lifesaving commodities for the wellbeing of our people. Africa’s knowledge that China knows and understands our desire to implement PMPA encouraged us to etch in the Abuja Declaration in July this year a paragraph that invites China and other BRICS to invest in the realization of the PMPA.
China is also aware that Africa has demonstrated determined and focus political will to reach the targets of the health related MDGs. She knows that it is not likely that all the fifty-four Member States of the African Union will reach those targets. However, she is aware that with limited resources, with time constraints and unpredictability in international health financing, we have done well, though not considerable enough to meet the expectations of the health related MDGs
Excellencies, Distinguished ladies and Gentlemen,
China’s presence on the continent and deep involvement in the development aspirations of Africa, its own history of climbing the development ladder and its yearn to assist other developing countries to reach the summit of that ladder, avail her the opportunity to understand the continent’s needs as well as forge better, stronger and durable ties with Africa.
It is that spirit of understanding that enlivens our cooperation. It is also that spirit that has sustained it, and it is that spirit that will strengthen it.
We look forward to the implementation of the Beijing Action Plan (2013-2015). We also look forward to a more focused, result driven and action oriented declaration from this meeting.
Finally Excellencies; Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, let me end this statement by quoting the words of Nelson Mandela, who once said that, “Our human compassion binds us … not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future”.
Africa and China are on that path-transforming our difficult past and present into a bright and prosperous future.
I thank you.