Events

Arab-Africa economic cooperation Forum discuss strategic partnership between Africa and the Arab Regions

Kuwait, 11th November 2013:The First Arab- Africa Cooperation Economic Forum kicks off today 11th November 2013, at Kuwait City, State of Kuwait, under the theme “Beyond the Promise: Moving forward toward an effective Africa-Arab partnership”.The two-day event brings African and Arab government, business and civil society leaders to effecting a strategic mutually beneficial partnership between the two regions.

Officially opening the Forum, H.H. Sheikh Salem Abdulaziz Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the State of Kuwait, highlights the importance of the African-Arab Economic Forum as being convened a week before the 3rd Africa- Arab Summit. He hoped that the Forum comes out with practical implementable recommendations on different economic and social areas, to avail the Arab and African regions opportunities to be exploited within the framework of their cooperation for progress, prosperity and decent life.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance noted that, in an increasingly globalized world, promotion and consolidation of Africa-Arab cooperation represents an added value to the economies of the Arab and African regions. That also contributes to sustainable development, through availing opportunities for collaboration in the areas of food security, investment and trade, and exchange of experiences and knowledge, and research findings on what would enhance the objectives of cooperation.

On behalf of the Commission of the African Union, H.E. Dr. Anthony MothaeMaruping, AUC Commissioner for Economic Affairs said that the cooperation between Arabs and Africans is based on strong foundations of close bonds between Africa and the Arab world. Those strong bonds are based on ancient trade, ethnic and cultural background, linguistic bonds, shared monotheist and revealed faith, geographical proximity. That what is needed is to strive to realize the full potency of these bonds through effective and meaningful co- operation on the ground.

He called upon the participants to be faithful to the Theme and Focus of the Forum. The Commissioner said “We have to resolutely tackle the set objectives shown in the concept note .The overall theme of.:“Beyond Promise : Moving Forward Towards An Effective Arab – African Partnership” with emphasis on “ Beyond Promise”, “ Effective” and on “Partnership” is tell-tale. It is indicative. It is instructive. It is action oriented, practical and entirely hands – on. I commend those who formulated it”.
He called upon the participants to focus on: probing and agreeing on inter-regional development co-operation issues in the areas of investment, infrastructure including energy, on agriculture and food security, trade and environment and examine regional and global considerations that impact on economic development of the two regions and find ways of dealing with them jointly. Thus he stated “ We are urged to consider investment flows in both directions. We are nudged a little to put the roles of non-governmental organizations and civil society on a new and higher plateau. In short, we are urged by stakeholders to harness full energy on all fronts which is at our disposal in the two friendly regions and put it to work full throttle to accelerate broad based co-operation”.

H.E. Dr. Nabil Al Arabi, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, focused in his remarks at the opening ceremony of the African-Arab Economic Forum, delivered on his behalf by Mr. Ahmed Ben Helli, Deputy Secretary-General, on setting fulcrums to determine the Forum's path in the course of Africa-Arab cooperation. That includes; creating a space for interaction between businessmen of Arab and African economists and businessmen, through which information, experiences, statistics, and funding sources can be exchanged, with a view to build an Arab-African partnership and translate the theme of the Forum "towards an effective Arab-African partnership" into economic projects touching the reality of African and Arab citizens.

Mr. Helli emphasized on the importance of exploring African and Arab markets to increase trade and development, noting that recent statistics at the League of Arab States have shown that the volume of the trade between a number of Arab and African countries had reached $ 25 billion in 2010.

Over the two days, the 1stArab- Africa Cooperation Economic Forum will explore opportunities in Africa and Arab regions and promoting collaboration between African Union Commission’s Member States, the Arab region and the world at large. It will focus primarily on how the private sector actors from Africa and Arab can forge sustainable partnerships with a view to enhancing trade and investment relations between the two sides. It also will feature some national and regional project portfolios with regional investment and export trade opportunities that require international and partnerships.

The Forum’s sessions themes include: Arab-Africa development cooperation, investment policy, laws, and procedures in the African countries, mutual Arab-African investments, mutual Africa- Arab cooperation in food security, and the role of non-governmental organizations in development assistance.
The Economic Forum attended bydifferent stakeholders from Africa and Arab world including; Ministers, senior government officials, public sector leaders, leaders of the prominent private sector establishments, specialized Arab and African institutions,regional and international organizations, multilateral agenciesinvestment consultants and economic advisorsinvestment promotion agencies and business council, regional economic communities, and the civil society and others.

The Forum report and recommendations will be submitted to the 3rd Arab-African Summit, scheduled to take place in the state of Kuwait from 19-20 November 2013.

For Further Information consult the AU website: www.au.int , and the 3rd Africa -Arab Summit page on: http://pages.au.int/afroarab\ http://www.kuwaitsummits.gov.kw

Media Contact:

Ms. Afrah M. Thabit
Directorate of Information and Communication
Cell :+965-98011965
E-mail: Thabitma@africa-union.org
afraht@hotmail.com
Website : www.au.int

The African Union strongly condemns the holding of a unilateral “referendum” in Abyei

Addis Ababa, 28 October 2013: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, is closely following the situation in the Abyei Area. She has learned, with deep concern, of the organization by the leadership of the Ngok Dinka community of a unilateral “referendum”, to determine the final status of Abyei.

The Chairperson of the Commission, while understanding the frustrations arising from the fact that the Abyei referendum has not yet been held, as provided for by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), stresses that this unilateral act is unacceptable and irresponsible. She condemns this exercise in the strongest terms possible. This unilateral act is in violation of the relevant decisions of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC), and can only heighten tension on the ground and further complicate the search for a mutually acceptable solution within the framework of existing commitments. She calls on those orchestrating this illegal act to put an immediate halt to their actions, as they pose a threat to peace in the Abyei Area, and have the potential to trigger an unprecedented escalation on the ground, which could negatively affect the continuing normalization of relations between Sudan and South Sudan, with far-reaching consequences for the region as a whole. Such escalation could also put the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) peacekeepers in a very dangerous position.

The Chairperson of the Commission acknowledges with appreciation the rejection by the Government of South Sudan of any unilateral action in Abyei. She calls on the international community, including the United Nations, to condemn the ongoing unilateral and irresponsible action in Abyei, and to prevail upon those concerned to cease it immediately.

The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the AU’s position on the issue of Abyei, as contained in relevant PSC communiqués, including AU’s acceptance of the Proposal submitted by the AU High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan and South Sudan (AUHIP) on 21 September 2012. As stressed by the PSC, this Proposal represents a fair and balanced solution that takes into account existing commitments and the interests of the communities on the ground. The Chairperson of the Commission also calls for the expeditious implementation of 20 June 2011 Agreement on Temporary Administrative and Security Arrangements for the Abyei Area. In this respect, she welcomes the decisions reached by the Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan during their recent Summit in Juba.

The Chairperson of the Commission further urges the Abyei communities to exercise utmost restraint and give maximum cooperation to UNISFA in order to ensure the maintenance of peace and stability in Abyei. She seizes this opportunity to pay tribute to UNISFA for its commendable efforts, in spite of the challenging environment in which it is operating.

The Chairperson of the Commission looks forward to the forthcoming visit of the PSC to Abyei, and is confident that PSC interactions with all parties concerned can assist in defusing the prevailing tension and facilitate a consensual way out of the crisis, with the support of the AUHIP.

Highlights of meetings of the AUC Chairperson during the 68th UNGA, New York, USA, 25 September, 2013 - Meeting the British MP for Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma met with British Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, H.E. Mark Simmonds, on 25 September 2013 in the sidelines of the 68th UN General Assembly Meeting in New York.

H.E. Mark Simmonds hailed the work done by the Chairperson within a year of her leadership at the AUC, and pledged continued support and collaboration in an atmosphere of mutual respect. They discussed the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals and the AU’s Agenda 2063. They also discussed the Nairobi terrorist attack, urgent action in the Central African Republic and British continued support to Somalia as well as Sudan and South Sudan.

Highlights of meetings of the AUC Chairperson during the 68th UNGA, New York, USA, 25 September, 2013 - Status Updates with UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, H.E. Christopher Ross met on 25 September 2013 in the margins of the 68th UN General Assembly Meeting.

The meeting followed an earlier meeting between the AUC Chairperson, Dr. Dlamini Zuma and UN Secretary-General H.E. Ban Ki-moon during which Western Sahara was raised, with the AU expressed interest in seeing the matter being resolved once and for all.

H.E. Christopher Ross briefed Dr. Dlamini Zuma on the status of the 38-year old conflict, highlighting other issues such as human rights abuse and mutual violation of agreements. He expressed the need for the profile of the case to be raised even further. Consultations will continue following the UN’s call for a political solution.

Highlights of meetings of the AUC Chairperson during the 68th UNGA, New York, USA, 25 September, 2013 - Meeting with the President of Tunisia

The AUC Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, met with the President of the Republic of Tunisia, H.E. Mohamen Moncef Marzouki, on 25 September 2013, in the sidelines of the 68th United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.

The two leaders discussed issues of interest on the continent, notably Central African Republic, Egypt, Mali and Kenya. The Tunisian President offered a contribution to alleviate the suffering of the population in the humanitarian crisis in CAR. The AUC Chairperson emphasized the need to tackle the security situation simultaneously with the humanitarian crisis.

President Marzouki congratulated the Chairperson for her leadership of the affairs of the organisation and assured her of his Government’s full continued support.