Events

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 02 December 2014: Ahead of the first International Contact Group on Lybia, the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has urged the Lybian parties to embark on an all-inclusive political process to overcome the current situation. She spoke with the Libyan Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammed al-Dairi on Tuesday, 2 December 2014, during the latter’s courtesy call to the AUC Chairperson at the the African Union Headquarters.

a The Chairperson of the AU Commission and Minister Mohammed al-Dairi discussed the situation in Libya and ongoing efforts toward reaching durable peace in the country. The Chairperson reiterated the call of the AU Peace and Security Council for all the Libyan stakeholders to embark on an all-inclusive dialogue toward reaching a political solution. She emphasized that there can be no military solution to the prevailing situation in the country.

The meeting of Wedneday 3 December 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will be the first since the International Contact Group was established by the AU Peace and Security Counscil meeting in the margins of the UN General Assembly meeting in September 2014, in New York, United States.

Addis Ababa, 17 November 2014: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, welcomes the significant progress made in Burkina Faso towards the establishment of a civilian-led transition, in conformity with the aspirations of the people of Burkina Faso for change and the consolidation of democracy.

In this regard, the Chairperson of the Commission welcomes the restoration of the Constitution and the signing, yesterday, 16 November 2014 in Ouagadougou, by all Burkinabe stakeholders, of the Transitional Constitutional Charter, in the presence of the AU Special Envoy for Burkina Faso, Mr. Edem Kodjo. She also notes with satisfaction the appointment of a civilian, Michel Kafando, as President of the Transition. She notes that these measures are in line with the communiqué of the 465th meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), held on 3 November 2014. The Chairperson of the Commission expresses her deep appreciation to all the stakeholders and the Burkinabe people for their political maturity and sense of responsibility, which made it possible to take these crucial steps. She encourages them to persevere in their efforts to ensure a civilian-led transition, in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Burkina Faso and the PSC communiqué.

The Chairperson of the Commission also expresses her appreciation to the AU current Chairman, President Mohamed Ould Abel Aziz of Mauritania, as well as to Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Chair of the Contact Group on Burkina Faso of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, current Chairman of ECOWAS, Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, and Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, for their important role in supporting the Burkinabe people and stakeholders. She also welcomes the contribution of the joint AU/ECOWAS/United Nations (UN) missions, comprising the AU Special Envoy, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, and the UN Special Representative for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas.

The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the AU’s commitment, in close cooperation with ECOWAS and the UN, to continue to support the efforts of the Burkinabe stakeholders for the completion of the Transition within the agreed timeframe. She calls on the larger international community to support these efforts and to mobilize the necessary support in favor of Burkina Faso.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 10 November 2014: African Union Commission Chairperson H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma arrived in Lusaka, Zambia, on 10 November 2014, to attend the funeral of the late Zambian President Michael Sata.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma left the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to join other continental and world leaders who will be paying their last respect to the former President who died in London on 28 October 2014. She is due to speak at the final funeral ceremony due to take place on 11 November 2014.

Following the announcement of President Sata’s death, the AUC Chairperson immediately sent her condolence message to President Sata’s family as well as the people of Zambia. She ordered for the flags to fly at half-mast at AU Headquarters from 29 October until burial. Accompanied by the AUC Deputy Chairperson H.E. Erastus Mwencha, Dr. Dlamini Zuma signed the condolence book opened at the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia.

Media contact
Jacob Enoh Eben | Spokesperson of the Chairperson | | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: EnohebenJ@africa-union.org or Spokesperson@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, 7 November 2014: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, welcomes the outcomes of the visit of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) to Sudan, undertaken from 4 to 6 November 2014. During its visit, the AUHIP met with a cross section of the Sudanese stakeholders, including Senior Government officials, the National Dialogue 7+7 Steering Committee, the National Consensus Forum, women civil society groups, as well as other opposition groups. The AUHIP was received in audience by President Omar Hassan Al Bashir.

The AUHIP was informed that, on 2 November 2014, the first General Assembly of the National Dialogue was convened, with the participation of various Sudanese political parties. In this regard, the Chairperson of the Commission commends the General Assembly for adopting the Addis Ababa Agreement of 5 September 2014 between the 7+7 Steering Committee and the Paris Declaration Group. She also commends the General Assembly for endorsing the proposal to convene the 7+7 Steering Committee with the armed movements at the AU Commission, in Addis Ababa, during the month of November 2014. The AUHIP was informed that this meeting would brief the armed movements on the National Dialogue process, including presenting them with all documents submitted to and endorsed by the General Assembly hitherto, the procedure of calling the National Dialogue and the various structures of the National Dialogue. This is intended to create an enabling environment and building trust between the parties involved. Most of all, this meeting is designed to achieve the strategic principle of inclusivity that should facilitate ownership of the process by all Sudanese.
The Chairperson of the Commission notes with satisfaction that the AUHIP also shared the concerns of the opposition parties and civil society groups with the 7+7 Steering Committee. In this regard, the 7+7 Steering Committee agreed to develop a methodology that ensures timely sharing of critical information with the Sudanese nation, including through regular interactions with all Sudanese stakeholders. The Chairperson of the Commission acknowledges that such steps are in line with the understanding that this is a national process that should be conducted in a transparent, inclusive and fair manner such that it could be owned by the people of Sudan.

The Chairperson of the Commission welcomes the commitment expressed by the Government of Sudan that negotiations on cessation of hostilities, immediately leading to a comprehensive security arrangements agreement, shall resume on 12 and 22 November, in Addis Ababa, with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM/N) and the Darfur movements, respectively. These shall be conducted under the auspices of the AUHIP and in collaboration with the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and the Joint Special Representative for the AU-United Nations Hybrid Operation (UNAMID), respectively.

In light of the communiqué of the 456th meeting of the Peace and Security Council and the 7+7 Roadmap, the Chairperson of the Commission wishes to underscore that all the Sudanese stakeholders should immediately establish a conducive environment for the holding of the National Dialogue. She encourages the Government to expedite its efforts towards implementing the agreed confidence-building measures, including the release of all political detainees and prisoners, as well as the adoption and implementation of all necessary steps to ensure political freedoms.

The AU, through the AUHIP, remains committed to working with the Sudanese people in the search for a lasting solution to the various challenges facing them.

African Union Mourns with Zambia

I learned with profound sadness the death of Zambia’s President H.E. Michael Sata.
Since his election as Zambia’s fifth President in September 2011, President Sata has actively participated in the activities of the African Union.

I will remember him for frankness and forthrightness during debates within and outside the continent.
While the continent sorrowfully joins the first family, the Government and people of Zambia in mourning President Sata, I have asked that the flags fly at half-mast at the African Union Headquarters.
On behalf of the African Union I wish to convey heartfelt condolences to the first family, the Government and people of Zambia.

H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
Chairperson, African Union Commission