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Addis Ababa, 9 July 2014: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, looks forward to working closely with the new members of the AU Panel of the Wise. At their 23rd Ordinary Summit, held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on 26 and 27 June 2014, the Heads of State and Government endorsed the proposals she made for the appointment of the five new members of the Panel, who are:
- Dr Lakhdar Brahimi, from Algeria, for North Africa;
- Mr Edem Kodjo, from Togo, for West Africa;
- Dr Albina Faria de Assis Pereira Africano, from Angola, for Central Africa;
- Dr Luisa Diogo, from Mozambique, for Southern Africa; and
- Dr Specioza Naigaga Wandira Kazibwe, from Uganda, for East Africa.
The new members of the Panel are due to assume office in September 2014, at a ceremony to be held at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa. They will seize that opportunity to review and adopt their programme of work. The Chairperson of the Commission is confident that the new members of the Panel will give additional momentum to the AU’s efforts in conflict prevention, building on the work carried out so far. In line with relevant provisions of the Protocol that established the Peace and Security Council (PSC), the AU policy making organs have, over the past few years, repeatedly emphasized the need for renewed efforts towards conflict prevention in Africa.
The Chairperson of the Commission seizes this opportunity to pay tribute to the outgoing members of the Panel of the Wise, which was chaired by late President Ahmed Ben Bella. Former President Kenneth Kaunda, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, Madame Marie Madeleine Kalala-Ngoy, and Dr Mary Chinery Hesse will now become Friends of the Panel.
NOTE TO THE EDITORS
About the establishment and mandate of the Panel of the Wise: The AU Panel of the Wise is one of the components of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), as provided for in the 2002 Peace and Security Council (PSC) Protocol. The Panel, which was launched in Addis Ababa, in December 2007, is composed of five highly respected African personalities who have made outstanding contribution to the cause of peace, security and development on the continent. They are selected by the Chairperson of the Commission after consultation with the Member States concerned, and appointed by the Assembly of the Union to serve for a period of three years.
The Panel is mandated to support the efforts of the PSC and those of the Chairperson of the Commission, particularly in the area of conflict prevention. The Panel may advise the PSC and the Chairperson of the Commission on all matters within their respective competences; carry out fact-finding missions as an instrument of conflict prevention; encourage parties, where appropriate, to engage in political dialogue; and promote confidence-building measures. The Panel may also pronounce itself on any issue relating to the promotion and maintenance of peace, security and stability in Africa.
About the work of the Panel of the Wise: Since its inception, the Panel of the Wise has undertaken a number of thematic reflections on issues relevant to conflict prevention and peace-building, namely:
election-related disputes and conflicts;
impunity, justice and national reconciliation;
women and children in armed conflicts; and
democratization and governance.
The thematic reflection on election-related conflicts and violence was initiated following the post-election crisis in Kenya in December 2007. The report of the Panel on this issue and its recommendations were adopted in July 2009 by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
The decision of the Panel to reflect on fighting impunity, along with its relationship to truth, justice and reconciliation in Africa, was taken in November 2008, following renewed debate on this topic.
The choice of the topic of women and children in armed conflicts was informed by the empirical evidence, accumulated over decades, confirming that women and children suffer most wherever and whenever there is a breakdown of social order, rule of law and ascendance of violence. The report of the Panel will be submitted in due course to the relevant AU organs.
The decision to devote a thematic reflection to the implications of the popular uprisings in North Africa for the democratization processes in Africa is in response to the request made by the 275th meeting of the PSC, held in Addis Ababa, on 26 April 2011, for the Panel to undertake a comprehensive review of the existing mechanisms relating to democratization and governance in Africa, and make recommendations to it.
In addition to its thematic reflections, the Panel of the Wise has undertaken a number of field missions in support of democratization and transition processes on the continent.
The Panel of the Wise works closely with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). It has undertaken joint activities with the Committee of Elders of COMESA, the Council of the Wise of ECOWAS, as well as the Secretariats of IGAD, SADC and the ICGLR. In May 2013, the AU Assembly decided to establish an umbrella mechanism called the Pan African Network of the Wise (PANWISE). PANWISE brings together mediation institutions and actors across the continent, with a view to building synergies among all concerned.

About the new members of the Panel of the Wise: The new members of the Panel of the Wise were elected by the AU Summit held in Malabo, on 26 and 27 June 2014. These are:
a) for North Africa, Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi from Algeria – Mr. Brahimi held senior positions in his country, notably as Ambassador to several countries, from 1963 to 1979, and Foreign Minister, from 1991 to 1993. He also held senior positions in the League of Arab States and the United Nations, including as Special Envoy;
b) for West Africa, Mr. Edem Kodjo from Togo. Mr. Kodjo has been Finance and Foreign Minister from 1976 to 1978, as well as Prime Minister, from 1994 to 1996. He also served as Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, from 1978 to 1983;
c) for Central Africa, Dr. Albina Faria Assis Pereira Africano from Angola. Dr. Africano has been Minister of Petroleum from 1992 to 1999 and Minister of Industry from 1999 to 2000. She also held the position of Special Advisor to the President for Regional Affairs;
d) for East Africa, Dr. Spesiosa Wandira from Uganda. Dr. Wandira has been Minister of Gender and Community Development from 1991 to 1994, Member of Parliament and, from 1994 to 2003, Vice-President of Uganda. She also chaired the African Women Committee on Peace and Development; and
e) for Southern Africa, Dr. Luisa Diogo from Mozambique. Dr. Diogo held several ministerial portfolios. She was Deputy Minister of Finance, then Planning and Finance Minister. From 2004 to 2010, she was Prime Minister.

Press Release/23rd AU SUMMIT

AU Commission Chairperson and Cuban Vice President meet in Malabo

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, 26 June 2014: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Cuba’s Vice President, H.E. Salvador Valdes Mesa have met in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on the sidelines of the ongoing 23rd African Union Summit.

They discussed issues of mutual interest to Cuba and the African Union. Vice President Valdes Mesa expressed admiration for the AU’s work, especially in forging regional integration, and maintaining peace and security on the continent.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma shared the challenges the continent is currently dealing with. Notwithstanding the challenges, she explained the consultative process to conceive Africa’s ambitious Agenda 2063, which will lay the framework for Africa’s development for the next 50 years. Once completed, it will allow friends of Africa to better engage the continent its development agenda.

Vice President Valdes Mesa assured the Chairperson of his country’s commitment to support Africa in every aspect, notably in human development. He delivered greetings from Commander Fidel Castro and General Raul Castro.

EAT/JEE/CJ/wzm
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Press Release Nº146/2014

AUC Chairperson appoints new Deputy Chief of Staff, Bureau of the Chairperson

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 17 June 2014: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has appointed Ms. Jennifer Susan Chiriga as the new Deputy Chief of Staff in the Bureau of the Chairperson. Ms. Chiriga replaces Dr. Hesphina Rukato.

Before her appointment as Deputy Chief of Staff, she was a Program Expert in the Strategic Policy Planning Monitoring Evaluation and Resource Mobilisation Directorate, responsible for the project management operations of one of the AU Commission’s capacity building programmes funded by the Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). She was instrumental in building relations and forging a strong partnership between the Commission and ACBF, and in mobilising additional resources for the continuation of the capacity building programme.

A national of Zimbabwe, Ms. Jennifer Susan Chiriga, has a BSc in Politics and Administration from the University of Zimbabwe and an MA in Policy Studies through a joint programme of the University of Zimbabwe and University of Fort Hare. She has over 25 years of accumulated work experience across the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Zimbabwe, through the development arena, specifically in the NGO sector as a manager in programme administration and management, as well as in policy design and application. She is a former Executive Director of the African Forum on Debt and Development (AFRODAD), a pan-African NGO; she has executive management experience and has worked extensively on civil society capacity-building strategies.

Ms Chiriga has a broad spread of international experience. She was awarded a fellowship on the Africa–Asia Transitional Justice Fellowship Programme, an internationally recognised programme run jointly by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) in South Africa and the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), based in New York. She worked briefly with the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR) a Cape Town based organisation that works on regional and continental issues. Her experience also includes the development of conflict management training materials and the organisation of high level conflict management training courses for senior government officials.

Jacob Enoh Eben
Ag. Spokesperson of the Chairperson

Addis Ababa, 17 June 2014: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosozana Dlamini-Zuma, welcomes the release of former Prime Minister of Sudan and President of the National UMMA Party, Imam Sadiq Al-Mahdi, on 15 June 2014. Mr. Al Mahdi was arrested on 17 May 2014, following public statements he made regarding the role of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Darfur region.

The Chairperson of the Commission stresses that this decision is a step in the right direction that will contribute to the creation of conditions conducive to the successful conduct of the National Dialogue Initiative announced by President Omar Hassan Al Bashir in January 2014. She reiterates AU’s support to this Initiative, and appeals to the Government to ensure that the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people of Sudan are protected. She calls on all concerned to desist from actions that would threaten the proposed National Dialogue and to recommit to a transparent, inclusive and holistic process that will ensure stability, democracy and development in the Republic of Sudan.

The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the AU’s continued commitment, through the AU High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), to assist the Government and people of Sudan, in their efforts to address the challenges facing their country through dialogue.

London, United Kingdom -10 June, 2014: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. NkosazanaDlaminiZumais leading an AU delegation toattend the London 2014 Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflicttaking place in London, United Kingdomfrom 10-13 June 2014.

While shedding light on the efforts of the AU, Dr. DlaminiZumawill call for more political commitment and concrete actions on the ground to ending sexual violence, which isaffectingmillions of girls in Africa and around the world. She will participate in the opening plenary session of a ministerial meeting, during which she will hear directly from the experts’ discussion, about the nature and impact of sexual violence in conflict.

Hosted by H.E. William Hague, British Foreign Secretary and Angelina Jolie, actress and Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the summit is expected to translate into practical action, the political commitment expressed by the 148 countries endorsing the declaration of commitment to End Sexual Violence in conflict, launched at the UN General Assembly in September 2013.

Accompanying Dr. DlaminiZuma is the AU Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security, MmeBinetaDiop. MmeDiop’s appointment in January 2014 was aimed at bringing to bear, a powerful political and diplomatic weight to raising the plight of women around issues of peace and security.

Dr. DlaminiZuma will hold a series of official engagements at the British parliament, bilateral meetings with the British Foreign Secretary, H.E. William Hague,UN Secretary General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, H.E. ZainabBangura; and Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. She willalso hold informal meetings with youth delegatesattending the Global Summit.

Media Contact in London:
Jacob Enoh Eben
Ag. Spokesperson of the Chairperson
Email: EnohebenJ@africa-union.org
Cell.: +44 7405156312