Events

Addis Ababa, 8 May 2014: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, looks forward to the planned meeting between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and former Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar, in Addis Ababa, on 9 May 2014, under the auspices of Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn of Ethiopia, Chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). She notes that the meeting, the first of its kind since the outbreak of the crisis, will take place against the backdrop of a deteriorating situation on the ground, marked by widespread abuses against civilians and other violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

The Chairperson of the Commission urges the two leaders to seize the opportunity of their meeting to agree on concrete steps to honor their commitments under the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of 23 January 2014 and move the political process forward. The people of South Sudan, the region, Africa and the larger international community, who are distressed by the appalling situation on the ground, cannot expect less from them. The urgency of finding a lasting solution to the crisis cannot be over emphasized. Every single additional day lost brings more suffering to the people of South Sudan, further tearing apart the social fabric of the country and threatening its very existence, while also seriously affecting regional security and stability.

The Chairperson of the Commission notes that the summit meeting is taking place on the heels of the signing by the Parties in Addis Ababa on 5 May 2014 of a “Recommitment on Humanitarian Matters in the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and SPLM/A (In Opposition)”, which provides for a month of tranquility starting from 7 May 2014. It is imperative that the commitments made are fully implemented to enable the unhindered, unrestricted and safe delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need.

The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the AU’s full support to the IGAD-led mediation. She commends Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn and the other leaders of the region, as well as the team of Special Envoys, for their continued engagement. She once again expresses gratitude to the international partners for their support in the ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis in South Sudan.

The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union receives an emissary of president Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi. The AU welcomes the commitment of the Burundian authorities to continue working towards the consolidation of peace and reconciliation in their country

Addis Ababa, 5 May 2014: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, today received the Minister of External Relations and International Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi, Mr. Laurent Kavakuré. The Minister conveyed a message from President Pierre Nkurunziza regarding the situation in Burundi and the ongoing efforts to hold free, fair and peaceful elections next year. The President also invited the Chairperson of the Commission to officially visit Burundi.

During the meeting, the Chairperson of the Commission and the Burundian Minister had an in-depth exchange of views on the situation. The Minister briefed the Chairperson on the progress made by Burundi in recent years to consolidate peace and reconciliation, and stressed his country’s determination to preserve these achievements. He highlighted the steps being taken towards the successful holding of the 2015 general elections, and invited the AU to observe these polls. He reiterated his country’s support to the AU-led peace efforts in different parts of the continent, as demonstrated by Burundi’s contribution of troops and police personnel to AU’s peace support operations.

On her part, the Chairperson of the Commission commended the commitment of the Burundian authorities to continue working towards the consolidation of peace and reconciliation in their country. She encouraged them and all the other stakeholders to work towards that endeavor, within the framework of the August 2000 landmark Arusha Accord for Peace and Reconciliation in Burundi, and to address effectively all the challenges at hand, including concerns raised recently on security issues, with a view to successfully holding the 2015 general elections. Recalling the exceptional international engagement that made it possible to break the cycle of violence in Burundi, she reiterated the AU’s determination to continue accompanying the Burundian stakeholders and people in their efforts towards sustainable peace, stability and development.

The Chairperson of the Commission informed the Minister that the AU would send long- and short-term observers to monitor the electoral process, and ensure that it is conducted in line with the relevant AU instruments, including the Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. The Chairperson also informed the Minister of her acceptance of the invitation extended to her by President Pierre Nkurunziza to visit Burundi, and indicated that she would do so soon.
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Press Release Nº 92/2014

AUC Chairperson to welcome visiting Chinese Premier at AU Headquarters

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2 May, 2014:The Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Mr. Li Keqiang, is visiting the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Monday, 5 May 2014. During this visit, he will be welcomed at the AU Headquarters by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlmini Zuma.

Both the Chairperson Dlamini Zuma and Prime Minister Li Keqiang will oversee the signing of cooperation agreements between the AU Commission and the People’s Republic of China.

Agreements to be signed include extension projects of the new AU Commission Conference Complex; strengthening cooperation on sharing experience of economic and social development; as well as forging infrastructural construction in Africa.

A highlight of the Chinese PM’s visit will be a speech on China’s Policy towards Africa, aimed at strengthening the AU-China Strategic partnership and deepening cooperation between Africa and China.

The AUC Chairperson will join the Chinese PM to visit China’s Aviation and Railway exhibition taking place in the AUC premises.

After Ethiopia,Prime Minister Li Keqiang is also expected to visit Nigeria, Angola and Kenya.This is his maiden visit to the continent since assuming office in 2013.

JEE/

Durban, 29 April 2014: The African Union Commission (AUC) convened a High-Level Retreat on 28-29 April 2014 in Durban, South Africa, on the theme Silencing Guns in Africa: Building a Roadmap to a Conflict-Free Continent, with the intention of exploring concrete options towards silencing guns in Africa. The overarching objective of the Retreat was to lay a foundation for the subsequent elaboration of a Roadmap towards a conflict-free Africa.

This Retreat was convened in the spirit of the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration, adopted on 25 May 2013 by the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government. The Retreat took place in the aftermath of the recently concluded Open Session of the AU Peace and Security Council, which addressed itself to the same issue. Thus, this Retreat constituted part of an on-going process to coordinate efforts towards concretely living up to the commitments of the AU Assembly.

The Retreat was conducted under the leadership of the Chairperson of the AUC, H.E. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. In her opening remarks, the Chairperson called upon the Experts in attendance to engage in frank and open discussions in order to develop concrete and innovative ideas towards silencing guns in Africa. The Chairperson noted that, “unless we silence the guns and bury the machetes, the AU vision of building an integrated, prosperous and conflict-free Africa will remain an abstract goal.”

The AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui, provided the context of the Retreat, as well as its expected outcome. He stressed the need for participants to bear in mind the necessity of identifying elements that will constitute the Roadmap for silencing guns in Africa.

The deliberations of the High-Level Retreat were indicative of the overarching nature of the tasks required towards building a concrete roadmap. In this context, Experts reflected on the current and on-going efforts to consolidate the growing positive trends in areas of democracy and governance, the continent’s ability to rapidly respond to conflicts and crises, as well as efforts to enhance Africa’s engagements with the rest of the world in order to derive maximum possible socio-economic benefits for all Africans. Further, the participants underlined emerging trends concerning the continent’s changing demographic profiles, broader socio-economic and environmental conditions, and their subsequent impacts on ensuring sustainable peace and ending all wars.

The participants agreed that the deliberations emerging from this High-Level Retreat should constitute the building blocks within the framework of the AUC’s ongoing efforts towards the elaboration of a concrete roadmap towards silencing all guns in Africa.

The AUC expressed its appreciation to the participation of African experts, drawn from the Regional Economic Communities, including the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), as well as from African think-tanks and civil society organizations, and representatives from multilateral partners and international organizations.

The AUC expressed its gratitude to the Government and People of South Africa for the hospitality provided, as well as to the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) for its support in facilitating the Retreat.

Addis Ababa, 22 April 2014: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, is deeply concerned at the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in South Sudan. In this respect, she strongly condemns the deliberate and criminal attack on civilians in Bentiu, Unity State, on 15 April 2014, where over 200 civilians were reportedly killed and more than 400 wounded while sheltering in a Mosque. This dastardly act was followed by another attack on civilians who were under the protection of peacekeepers in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) camp in Bor, Jonglei State, on 17 April 2014, during which over 40 people were killed and many others were wounded.
This tragedy is all the more shocking as it came amid efforts by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to facilitate the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement that was signed by the Government of the Republic of South Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A - in opposition), on 23 January 2014.

The Chairperson of the Commission would like to remind both the Government and the SPLM/A (in opposition) of their responsibility to fully abide by the Agreements they signed and their obligation regarding the protection of all civilians, including those who are under the protection of the UN. She urges both parties to fully cooperate with the IGAD-led Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (MVM), in order to investigate these attacks and to bring their perpetrators to justice.

The Chairperson of the Commission strongly urges both parties to the conflict in South Sudan to take seriously the upcoming political negotiations to resolve their dispute and fully cooperate with IGAD to facilitate the early completion of the deployment of the Monitoring and Verification Teams (MVTs), so as to avoid such similar tragedies in the future.

Finally, the Chairperson of the Commission reiterates AU’s continued support to the IGAD efforts aimed at finding a comprehensive and lasting solution to the conflict in South Sudan.