Events

South Sudan Commission of Inquiry established and members appointed

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 7 March, 2014: A Commission of Inquiry has been appointed to investigate human rights violations and other abuses committed during the armed conflict that broke out in South Sudan in mid-December 2013. The five-member Commission of Inquiry will be headed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Announcing the establishment of the Commission and its members during a press briefing at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, said the Commission was established in implementation of a decision of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) made by Heads of State and Government.

The mandate of the Commission as decided by the PSC, is to “investigate the human rights violations and other abuses committed during the armed conflict in South Sudan, and make recommendations on the best way and means to ensure accountability, reconciliation and healing among all South Sudanese communities.”

Dr. Dlamini Zuma said the Commission was established after deep consultations with the different parties involved in the conflict as well as with the armed opposition groups. The consultations took place in Addis Ababa and during her visit to Juba.

The five members of the African Union Commission of Inquiry in South Sudan are:
• H.E. Olusegun Mathew Aremu Obasanjo - Chairperson of the Commission – Former President of Nigeria, and former Chairperson of the African Union. President Obansanjo has headed several AU Election Observation missions and initiatives. He headed the joint African Union and ECOWAS missions to Senegal during presidential polls in March 2012, paving the way for a smooth transition. He is UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to the Great Lakes and remains an integral actor in the DRC mediation efforts.

• Lady Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo - Member. President and Justice of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights based in Arusha, Tanzania. She is a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana and has over 39 years of experience working with high-profile national and continental organisations.

• Professor Mahmood Mamdani - Member. He is the Executive Director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Prof. Mamdani was Chair of the National Commission of Inquiry into Local Government in Uganda in 1987-88. He specializes in comparative studies of colonialism since 1452, and the question of civil war and mass violence.

• Ms. Bineta Diop - Member: Recently appointed AU Chairperson’s Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security. She has over 35 years of experience working in human rights, peace-building and development issues in Africa and internationally. Ms. Bineta founded the Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS), a leading global organization with an objective to strengthen women’s leadership and engender peace processes in Africa.

• Professor Pacifique Manirakiza – Member. He is currently a Commissioner at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights based in Banjul, The Gambia. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa School Of Law in the French Section of the Common law Program. Prof. Manirakiza specializes in International Criminal law and more specifically on the fight against international crimes before national and international tribunals.

The Technical and Administrative Support Team will be based at the AUC Headquarters in Addis Ababa. The Secretariat will establish necessary contacts with the AU Liaison Office in Juba, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) based in Juba, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), as well as other relevant stakeholders, to enable members of the Commission to amply carry out their mandate.

The Terms of Reference of the Commission shall include:
- Establish the immediate and remote causes of the conflict;
- Investigate human rights violations and other abuses during the conflict by all parties from 15 December 2013;
- Establish facts and circumstances that may have led to and that amount to such violations and of any crimes that may have been perpetrated;
- Compile information based on these investigations and in so doing assist in identifying perpetrators of such violations and abuses with a view to ensuring accountability for those responsible;
- Compile information on institutions and process or lack thereof that may have aided or aggravated the conflict resulting in violations of human rights and other abuses;
- The Commission shall make recommendations based on the investigation on the following:
o appropriate mechanisms to prevent a recurrence of the conflict;
o mechanisms to promote national healing and cohesiveness, particularly focusing on the need for all South Sudanese communities to live together in peace;
o modalities for nation building, specifically focused on building of democratic institutions and post-conflict reconstruction;
o accountability mechanisms for gross violations of human rights and other egregious abuses to ensure that those responsible for such violations are held to account.

The AU Commission Chairperson said the AU will continue to support the IGAD (Inter Governmental Authority on Development) mediation efforts to end the ongoing hostilities and find sustainable solutions using political and diplomatic means.

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Press Release Nº031/2014

AUC Chairperson to attend Nigeria’s centenary celebrations and High Level Meeting on Post-2015 Agenda in Chad

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 26 February, 2014: On the invitation of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will attend Nigeria’s centenary celebrations. Dr. Dlamini Zuma will deliver a goodwill message during a ceremony expected to be attended by Heads of State and Governments from across the continent.

The centenary celebration marks the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern entities of Nigeria. Year-long celebrations, which started in February 2013, are expected to peak on 27th February 2014, in Abuja, Nigeria, with a one-day summit on the theme: “Human Security, Peace and Development – Agenda for 21st Century Africa.”

After Abuja, Nigeria, the AU Commission Chairperson will participate in a High Level Committee meeting on the Post-2015 Development Agenda planned for 28 February, 2014, in Ndjamena, Chad. The N’djamena meeting is expected to launch the Common African Position on the Post-2015 Development Agenda and formulate a strategy for advocacy, negotiation and forging alliances, aimed at making input into the global post 2015 development agenda.

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Press Release Nº029/2014

Mauritania Foreign Minister and AU Executive Council President in audience with AUC Chairperson

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 25 February, 2014: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma on Tuesday, 25 February 2014, received in audience the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and current African Union Executive Council President, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Ould Teguedi.

Issues discussed during their meeting included the timely implementation of Summit decisions, upcoming Africa-European Union Summit, Ministers of Finance Meeting on alternative sources of funding, the establishment of an AU Foundation and peace and security issues, including ongoing challenges in the Central African Republic and South Sudan, amongst others.

The AUC Chairperson and the Foreign Minister met on the eve of an official visit to the Commission by current Chairperson of the African Union and President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, H.E. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.

President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz will visit the Commission on Wednesday, 26 February, with the aim to further strengthen and enhance the efficient collaboration in delivering on the continental mandate during Mauritania’s presidency of the Union.

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania assumed the African Union Presidency during the 22nd Summit of Heads of State and Government that held on 30-31st January 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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Press Release Nº025/2014

Austria and Slovak present letters of Credence to the AU Chairperson

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 21February, 2014: The new Ambassadors of Austria, H.E. Dr. Andreas Melan, and the Slovak Republic, H.E. Mr. JozefCibula, to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Representatives to the African Union have presented their letters Credence to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

In discussions after presenting his credentials, H.E. Dr. Andreas Melan, noted the strategic importance to his country in having a diplomatic representation in the Addis Ababa, Headquarters of the African Union, given the critical role of the regional organisation.He invited the AUC Chairperson to consider the Austrian Government invitation to establish an AU representation office in Vienna, being the seat of many multilateral organisations. He pledged the Government’s support in setting up and maintaining the office.

While expressing interest in strengthening relationship with Austria, Dr. Dlamini Zuma said she will seek to understand why the request to open a regional representation office had not been taken up. Dr. Dlamini Zuma and Ambassador Andreas Melan also discussed other areas of common interest such as gender, which they agreed to pursue closely.

On his part, the Ambassador for the Slovak Republic, H.E. Jozef Cibula promised to ensure positive cooperation outcome during his tenure of office. He specifically highlighted the interest of his country in supporting the AU and Member States, at both multilateral and bilateral bases in the areas of peace, security and development.

The AUC Chairperson promised that, once completed, the Agenda 2063 will be shared with the Diplomatic to explore cooperation opportunities for its implement. She congratulated both of them for their appointments and wished them a productive tour of duty.

JEE/

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 12 February 2014

AUC Chairperson’s condolence message to Burundi flood victims

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has learnt with great sadness, of the devastation caused by heavy floods in parts of Burundi’s capital city Bujumbura, following torrential rains this week. The tragic consequences of the floods include over 60 people dead and more than 80 wounded. The floods also destroyed hundreds of houses and thousands of individuals and families have been rendered homeless.

On behalf of the African Union Commission and on her own behalf, the Chairperson conveys her heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims, the Government and people of Burundi.

In solidarity with the victims, the AU Head of Mission in Burundi and the Chairperson’s Special Representative to the Great Lakes Region, H.E. Boubacar Diarra is leading a delegation to assess the humanitarian situation in order to provide the much needed assistance from the African Union and the rest of the humanitarian community.

The Chairperson reiterates the AU’s commitment to assist Member States in their efforts in building their resilience, while stepping up their disaster risk reduction strategies.

Jacob Enoh Eben
Ag. Spokesperson of the Chairperson
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