21st AU Summit
Activities
AUC Chief of Staff says the OAU-AU Golden Jubilee is “an opportunity to strengthen our goal of achieving a union of peoples”
Addis Ababa, 29 May 2013 – On the occasion of the 50th anniversary celebration of the Organisation of African Union (OAU) now the African Union (AU), Mr. Jean-Baptiste Natama, Chief of Staff of the bureau of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, sent a message on Pan-Africanism in which he expressed his views on PanAfricanism and African renaissance. The message was addressed to his colleagues and staff of the AU as well as to all militants of Panafricanism in the continent and the Diaspora.
He recalled the PanAfrican spirit that motivated the founders of the OAU and hoped that same spirit will help to consolidate the unity of all the Africans and the Diaspora as the organization plan to embark on its journey for African renaissance and 2063 agenda.
Wishing successful and happy Jubilee celebrations to all the AU staff in all the regional offices and AU offices abroad, Mr. Natama underlined the importance for all to feel African in all the undertaking and be proud of being African. “We should have big dreams and know how to keep them from a concerted prospective vision”, he noted.
See complete message of the AUC Chief of Staff on the AU website: www.au.int
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The African Capacity for Immediate Response (AICRC) to Crisis is adopted
Addis Ababa, 27 May 2013 – The Heads of State and Government of the African Union today took a decision of historic nature and scope when they adopted the African immediate Crisis response Capacity (AICRC). This decision was informed by the overwhelming dependence of the Union on funds provided by partners and which affects the implementation of African solutions to African problems. For instance, 100% of African Union (AU) Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) is funded by partners. It represents an annual budget of 500 million USD. In the same vein, African leaders agreed in the case of the armed rebellion in Mali that Africa could have moved faster and made the French intervention dispensable if it had the appropriate tools and mechanisms. As Africa celebrates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity and of the African Union, leaders of the continent felt it unfortunate that after 50 years of independence, African security is so dependant of foreign partners.
This statement was made by Ambassador Lamamra Ramtane, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security at a press conference held after the conclusion of the 21st AU Summit.
The AICRC “is to provide Africa with a strictly military capacity with high reactivity to respond swiftly to emergency situations upon political, decisions to intervene in conflict situations within the continent. The aim is to establish an efficient, robust and credible force, which can be deployed very rapidly, able to conduct operations of limited duration and objectives or contribute to creating enabling conditions for the deployment of larger AU and/or UN peace operations” says the report of the Chairperson of the AU Commission. It is an interim tool as the African Standby force (ASF) is meant to be operational by 2015.
On a voluntary basis, Member States of the African Union will contribute troops and finance the capacity so as to act independently. So far, South Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia have pledged to implement the decision on the establishment of the capacity. Command and control will be ensured by the AU Peace and Security Council upon request of a Member State for intervention.
During the press conference, Commissioner Lamamra also briefed the journalists on the state of peace and security on the continent. During the 21st AU Summit, Heads of State and Government reviewed the state of peace and security on the continent and the steps needed to hasten the attainment of the objective of a conflict-free Africa.
For more information, please visit the African Union website at www.au.int and follow us on twitter (@_AfricanUnion) and Facebook.
African Union Commission’s Strategic Plan 2014-2017 adopted by Assembly
Addis Ababa, 27 May 2013-
The Heads of State and Government of the African Union have adopted the Commission’s Strategic Plan 2014 – 2017 during their 21st Ordinary Session on 26 May 2013.
According to the Chairperson of the Union who is also the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Mr. HaileMariam Dessalegn, the Strategic Plan of the African Union Commission is an important document that will enable the Commission to achieve its goals for the next four years. He said the Plan aims to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, driven by an accountable, efficient and responsive Commission.
Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma in her press conference statement held at the closing of the 21st AU Summit, today, 27 May 2013, said, the adoption by the Assembly of this important document is a step forward towards achieving the Africa 2063 vision. She said the Strategic Plan constitutes the framework that outlines the overall priorities of the Commission for the four year period, and provides guidance for program formulation and prioritization. She added that, It seeks to establish the basis for creating the continental public goods and the enabling conditions necessary for peace, security, political stability and growth.
Chairperson Dlamini Zuma underlined that, with this Strategic Plan, the Commission will seek to accelerate progress towards a stable, peaceful, prosperous and integrated Africa within a good governance environment, while paying particular attention to women and youth among others. She said the Commission will work to build a people-centered Union through active communication of the programs of the African Union, the branding of the Union and participation of all stakeholders, including those in the Diaspora, in defining and implementing the African agenda.
Worth noting that, the Strategic Plan 2014-2017, comes at a seminal point in the history of the African Continent, with the year 2013 marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization for African Unity (OAU) in 1963, while 2012 marked the first decade of the establishment of the African Union (AU) as the successor to the OAU. The Plan provides space for AUC to play its facilitating role, especially, with respect to policy and strategy setting, coordination and catalyzing Africa‘s socio-economic and integration agenda, consensus building and advocacy, experience and information sharing.
The eight priority areas of the Commission as stipulated in the Strategic Plan are:
1. Human capacity development focusing on health, education, science, research, technology and innovation;
2. Agriculture and agro processing;
3. Inclusive economic development through industrialisation, infrastructure development, agriculture and trade and investment;
4. Peace, stability and good governance;
5. Mainstreaming women and youth into all our activities;
6. Resource mobilisation;
7. Building a people-centred Union through active communication and branding; and
8. Strengthening the institutional capacity of the Union and all its organs.
Communication for the first time became one of the priorities of the Commission (priority No.7). Also given the importance of the strategic document, the Directorate of Information and Communication of the African Union has resolved to elaborate a specific communication plan to popularize and inform the African citizens on the implementation of the Plan so that they can take active part in the process.
AFRICAN LEADERS SIGN DECLARATION OF OAU/AU 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Addis-Ababa, 27 May 2013 – The African Union Heads of State and Government (AU), solemnly signed on Sunday in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), during their 21th Summit, the declaration of the fiftieth anniversary of the OAU/AU.
African leaders reaffirmed in this declaration, their commitment to the Pan-Africanism ideals and Africa aspiration for "greater unity". They also reaffirmed their "determination" to build an integrated, a prosperous and peaceful Africa driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic force, including those of equality between men and women and a union of peoples.
AU Member States reaffirmed their " unflinching believe " in their common destiny, Shared Values and commit to the development of the African identity; the celebration of unity in diversity and the institution of the African citizenship. As part of advancing the African identity, they will promote and harmonize the teaching of African history in all schools and educational institutions in Africa.
They also confirmed the commitment to Africa’s political, social and economic integration agenda, and in this regard speed up the process of realizing the objectives of the African Economic Communities (RECs), and undertake steps towards the construction of a united and integrated Africa.
Building on existing commitments and instruments, AU Member States undertake in particular the speedy implementation of the Continental Free Trade Area, free movement of people and goods, with focus on integrating local and regional markets, and they realize progress on the construction of a united Africa through the implementation of their common continental governance, democracy and human rights frameworks and move with speed towards the integration and merger of the RECs as the building blocks of the Union.
Africa Union Heads of State and Governments have expressed their "determination to achieve the goal of a conflict-free Africa to make peace a reality for all African people and to clear the continent of wars, civil conflicts, human rights violations, humanitarian disasters and violent conflicts".
The leaders of Africa pledge to articulate the above ideals and goals in the context of developing the Continental Agenda 2063, through a people-driven process for the realization of their vision for an integrated, people-centred, prosperous Africa at peace with itself.
For more information, please visit the website: www.au.int
Notes to the Editor
Proclamation of the African Union Executive Council adopted at the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council, held 19-23 May 2013. This statement is adopted by the 21st Ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, Addis Ababa, 26 May 2013.
GAAK/ MW
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