Events

The African Union Assembly launches the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) negotiations

Johannesburg, South Africa – 15 June 2015. The African Union Assembly launched the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) negotiations during the 25th Ordinary Summit of Head of States and Governments on 15 June in Johannesburg, South Africa. The CFTA negotiations were launched at a luncheon hosted by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

The launch of the Continental Free Trade Area negotiations was preceded by a High Level Panel discussion on the CFTA. The objective was to discuss the importance and benefits of the Continental Free Trade Area for Africa.

H.E. Macky Sall, President of Senegal pointed out that Africans trade only 12% of their merchandise among themselves and emphasized the urgent need for the continent to come together and establish one African Free Trade Area. “We now have to make a giant step to make the CFTA a reality”, he said. The President urged African countries to learn from the Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional group of fifteen countries which has implemented a single passport to facilitate the intra-regional movement of people and goods across the West Africa region. He also mentioned that trade-related infrastructure is key to the implementation of the CFTA. “Infrastructure has to be the priority and without it, trade between African countries will never be improved”, he stressed.

H.E. Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya and one of the Champions of the CFTA, highlighted how important and critical the CFTA is for the Continent. For the President, the CFTA means, amongst others, prosperity, job creation for youth, peace and security and agricultural development. He noted that 6 out of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa and the CFTA will build one common African market and address the challenges of youth migration and poverty issues. He deplored the fact that Africa is still exporting its raw materials to third countries, depriving itself of the opportunity to create decent jobs for its people. He insisted that countries should remove artificial borders that fragment the African market. “I can assure everybody that the CFTA, if it is implemented, will benefit big and small countries. We just have to remove the artificial boundaries we have created for ourselves and that have been inherited from colonial times”, he said.

Representing the President of Ghana, H.E John Dramani Mahama also a Champion of the CFTA, Mrs. Hanna Tetteh, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration pointed out that Ghana fully supports the implementation of the CFTA. “The CFTA is a vehicle to empower our young people to create jobs and a better life for our people”, she said.

The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) H.E. Dr Carlos Lopez, welcomed the launch of the CFTA negotiations and noted that the Continent has made some progress in terms of economic growth but emphasized that this growth is not sustainable without industrialization and the creation of an internal African market.

The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E Erastus Mwencha deplored the fact that currently it is so difficult to move across borders in Africa. He highlighted that an African trader faces a higher level of tariff protection when exporting within the continent than a trader from overseas. The CFTA is therefore an instrument to create favorable trading conditions for African traders. He urged countries to seriously address the issues of tariffs and non-tariff barriers during the CFTA negotiations.

The Commissioner for Trade and Industry of the African Union Commission, H.E Fatima Haram Acyl, applauded the Heads of State and Government for their commitment to the establishment of the CFTA. She reaffirmed the AU Commission’s readiness to support Member States in the CFTA Negotiations. The Commissioner emphasized the importance of involving various stakeholders in the negotiations and implementation of the CFTA in particular the private sector. Regional Economic Communities (RECs), private sector, civil society, and strategic partners all have an important role to play in the CFTA negotiations under the leadership of African Member states.

“I am convinced that through the CFTA, we can put trade at the center and at the service of development and create economic opportunities and decent jobs for our youth here in Africa. Africa cannot afford to keep losing its young people to the Mediterranean Sea as they seek to migrate to Europe in search of jobs and greener pastures”, she concluded..

Officially launching the CFTA negotiations, the Chairperson of the African Union and President of Zimbabwe H.E Robert Mugabe, welcomed the commencement of the negotiations and urged countries to learn from the Tripartite Free Trade Area among COMESA-EAC-SADC which was launched on 10 June 2015 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. He emphasized the importance of accelerated infrastructure and industrial development to enable the CFTA is to be an engine of economic growth and development for Africa.

The CFTA negotiations are expected to be concluded by the indicative date of 2017.

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For further information, please contact Mr. Batanai Chikwene, Trade Policy officer - Email: chikweneb@africa-union.org.

Media contact: Patient Atcho, Department of Trade and Industry – Email: atchop@africa-union.org

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PRESS BRIEFING OF THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON

Within the framework of the 25th AU Summit H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson, AUC will on Monday 15 June 2015 at 15h00, hold a press briefing on the following issues:

- Alternative sources of funding

The briefing will be held in the Media Briefing Room (-2 floor), at the Sandton Convention Center, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Journalists are invited to take part in the press briefing

Media contact
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke; Media Center Coordinator Directorate of Information and Communication; AU Commission
Tel: +27-84-7094277; E: mail: molalett@africa-union.org

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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Learn more at:
http://summits.au.int/en/25thsummit

Courtesy Call of Seychelles President to the AU Commission Chairperson

Johannesburg, South Africa - 15 June 2015: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma granted an audience to the President of Seychelles, James Michel on the margins of the 25th AU Summit of Heads of State and Government on 15 June 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

President James Michel congratulated the AU Commission Chairperson for her dynamic leadership in managing the affairs of the Commission, particularly in spearheading and championing the Blue Economy on the broader continental Agenda 2063. He expressed the delight of Seychelles and that of the Small Island States.

Both the AU Commission Chairperson and the President of Seychelles agreed on the need to organize a Summit on the Blue Economy and Africa’s Oceans aimed at raising awareness and allowing the continent tap on the enormous potential they provide. They also discussed the relevance and timeliness of the theme of the Summit, “Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Agenda 2063.”

Dr. Dlamini Zuma and President James Michel exchanged views on the current situation of Burundi and the East Africa Standby Force, of which Seychelles is the Chair.

/JEE

Luncheon for the launch of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) negotiations
When: 15 June 2015 at 1:00 PM
Where: Sandton Convention Centre – Exhibition room 1
Who: The Chairperson Office and the Department of Trade and Industry of the African Union Commission
What: High level panel discussion and launch of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) negotiations

For further information please contact:
Batanai Chikwene, Trade policy officer - Email:CHIKWENEB@africa-union.org tel: 0631231170
Media Contacts:
- Patient Atcho, Department of Trade and Industry – Email: atchop@africa-union.org – Tel: 0732763270
- Mrs. Esther Tankou, Directorate of Information and Communication – Email: yamaboue@africa-union.org – Tel: 0789321782

Press Release Nº04/25TH AU SUMMIT

Women are special breed, there’s no task which women cannot do - President Robert Mugabe

Johannesburg, South Africa - 14 June 2015: “Whenever I think of the virtues and the indomitable spirit that epitomizes the African woman, I am reminded of the heroines across the African continent, who stood up against the forces of colonialism and occupation,” President Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe and current Chairperson of the African Union said as he described the heroics of the African woman. He was addressing the opening ceremony of the 25th Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government, on Sunday 14 June 2015, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

During his address, President Mugabe recounted the important role played by women for many years, while acknowledging the need for more to be done in line with the AU theme for the year, “Women’s empowerment and development towards Agenda 2063.”

He cited the examples of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, amongst others, whom he described as trailblazers and living testimonies of women leadership. He cited the role they played in the fight against Ebola, adding that today Liberia is free of Ebola.

President Mugabe, however, said though much had been achieved, a lot more still needs to be done, particularly in the areas of economic empowerment and decision-making. He expressed the wish to see the Summit engaging in open and frank discussions aimed at empowering the women of Africa.

On her part, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma reflected on a number of issues, including the opportunities presented by Africa’s Agenda 2063, lessons learned from the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease, the blue economy, its demography especially with women and youth constituting a greater majority of the population. She highlighted the need for the continent to remain focused on its transformation agenda, to ensure that the continent achieves its vision of “an integrated, prosperous, peaceful and people-centered Africa which is a dynamic force in the world.”

After congratulating President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Dr. Dlamini Zuma reflected on the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease, which has been stopped in Liberia, but is still affecting Guinea and Sierra Leone. The AU Commission Chairperson said the lesson learned from the epedemic is that, “with African solidarity and resolve, we can find our own solutions to our challenges.” She said the disease exposed the weaknesses of Africa’s health systems, especially public health, noting the need to train more health workers, and build and strengthen Africa’s health systems and infrastructure.

During the opening ceremony, the AU Commission Chairperson took the opportunity to present tillers to the Heads of State and Government. She said the tillers were meant to replace the handheld hoes that should be sent to the museum, a request that had been made by women farmers during Agenda 2063 consultations. Presenting one tiller each to President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and President Macky Sall of Senegal, she invited the other Heads of State and Government to collect theirs to take back home.

South African President Mr. Jacob Zuma, who is host of the summit, delivered the official welcome statement. He called for the realization of the aspirations of Agenda 2063. “The expectations from our people are high and we cannot fail in the implementation of Agenda 2063 to redefine, lead and fund our own development and the future”, he said.

Other speakers at the Summit included Mr Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestine Liberation Organisation; Secretary General of the League of Arab States Mr. Nabil Elaraby; new Heads of State and Government of AU member states such as President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, President Hage Geingob of Namibia, President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi of Mozambique and Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili of the Kingdom of Lesotho. Outgoing President of Tanzania, Mr. Jakaya Kiwete also addressed the opening of the Summit.

The 25th AU Summit ends on 15th June with the adoption of key decisions and resolutions. A final press conference will be held immediately after the closing ceremony, to which members of the media are invited.