Events

Press Release Nº326/2015

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 5 November 2015: The African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has expressed commiseration with the victims and families of the dozens of people who lost their lives in the plane crash in Juba, South Sudan, in the morning of Wednesday 4 November 2015.

“News of this terrible tragedy came as a shock as we are still in the process of mourning the victims of the Russian airliner that crashed over the weekend”, Dr Dlamini Zuma said. “And now, only a few days later, we stand in commiseration with the South Sudanese, Armenians and Russians once again. It’s my hope and prayer that we won’t have to deal with more calamities like this in the near future. My prayers are with the relatives of all those who were killed.”

The cargo plane, which crashed barely minutes after take-off from Juba’s International Airport, is said to have been carrying 18 people aboard; although the numbers still have to be confirmed. All the passengers were killed, save a little boy, and many more perished when the airline crashed into a farming community less than a mile from the airport, according to news sources.

Office of the Spokesperson of the Chairperson

African Union Commission

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Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 4 November 2015: The African Union Commission Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, Ms. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, signed, on Wednesday, 4 November 2015, the Host Country Agreement for the establishment of the Headquarters of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE).

The Host Agreement will allow AFCONE and its Secretariat to function fully and effectively to implement the mandate of the African Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba), which entered into force in July 2009.

According to the AU Commission Chairperson, the African Commission on Nuclear Energy will play a key role in supporting sustainable development on the continent, notably in supporting key Agenda 2063 priority areas such as infrastructure, health, agriculture, industrialization and energy (amongst other priorities). The Chairperson of the Commission stressed the positive role that AFCONE will play in advancing the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts.

On her part, the South African Minister for International Relations expressed the satisfaction of her government to host the Pan-African institution, noting the significant contribution towards the ultimate goal of achieving a world in which nuclear weapons no longer exist.

Following the signing, the Chairperson of the AU Commission seized the opportunity to call on all concerned States to ratify and accede to the Treaty of Pelindaba and its Protocols without further delay. She further expressed her appreciation to the Republic of South Africa for being graciously hosting of a number of other AU organs.

About the Treaty of Pelindaba
The African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Pelindaba, was signed in Cairo, Egypt, on 11 April 1996 and entered into force on 15 July 2009.

The Treaty, for which the Chairperson of the African Union Commission is the depositary, prohibits the development, manufacture, stockpiling, acquisition, testing, possession, control or stationing of nuclear explosive devices in the Zone territory of States parties and the dumping of radioactive waste in the African Zone.

It also prohibits any attack against nuclear installations in the Zone by the parties and requires them to maintain the highest standards of physical protection of nuclear material, facilities and equipment, which are to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes.

The Treaty has three Protocols. The first two commit States parties not to use or threaten to use a nuclear device against any territory within the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, as well as not to undertake, assist or encourage the testing of any nuclear explosive device anywhere within the Zone.

These two Protocols are open for signature by the five recognized nuclear-weapon States.

The third Protocol, which is open for signature by France and Spain, concerns the territories for which they are de jure or de facto internationally responsible, and which are situated within the Zone. The Protocol commits them not to contribute to any act that constitutes a violation of the Treaty.

About AFCONE
The African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) was established by Article 12 of the Treaty of Pelindaba as the body responsible for, inter alia, ensuring States Parties compliance with their obligations under the Treaty and its Protocols and promoting regional and sub-regional programmes for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology.

In 2012 AFCONE adopted its programme of work which consists of four pillars focusing on: a) monitoring States parties' compliance with their Treaty obligations; b) nuclear and radiation safety and security; c) nuclear sciences and applications; and d) partnerships and technical cooperation with the relevant regional and international bodies.

The Secretariat of AFCONE will be located in Pretoria, South Africa, and will be headed by an Executive Secretary. AFCONE is financed by States Parties assessed contributions, as well as grants from international partners.

Press Release

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 27 October 2015: The African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, leaves Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday 27 October 2015, for New Delhi, India, to attend the Third Africa-India Summit currently being held in New Delhi, India, and scheduled to last from the 26 to 29 October 2015. The objectives of the Summit include improving the existing diplomatic, political and economic partnership between African countries and India, in addition to increasing development cooperation between both parties.

The AU Commission Chairperson will be joining other African Heads of State and Government participating in the Summit in New Delhi.

“I am pleased to participate in this Summit, and welcome the opportunity to discuss ways of boosting the long-standing relationship between Africa and India, across specific sectors of comparative advantage, in line with Africa’s Agenda 2063,” Dr. Dlamini Zuma said before leaving the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa.

Aside from participating in the Summit discussions, Dr. Dlamini Zuma will also hold bilateral meetings with some Heads of various delegations.

Over a thousand dignitaries and delegates have gathered in India’s capital city of New Delhi, including Heads of State and Government, Ministers, business leaders, Regional Economic Communities and other non-State actors.

The Africa-India Summit unfolds at three levels: the governmental level, the foreign ministries and finally senior government officials. The Senior Officials began meeting with their Indian counterparts, Monday 26 October 2015, at the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex. The Summit ends on 29 October 2015, with the adoption of a final declaration of the Heads of State and Government.

Press Release Nº302/2015

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 25 October 2015: The African Union Commission Chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has announced a USD 200,000 donation to alleviate the plight of flood victims in the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Sahrawi Republic). The AU Commission Chairperson made the announcement following reports that over 10-days of torrential rains brought heavy floods that destroyed several public buildings, community centres, and homes of refugees in all the Wilayas of the camps.

Sending her good wishes to the people of Sahrawi Republic, while announcing the donation, Dr. Dlamini Zuma said that the amount will go towards providing urgent humanitarian assistance, particularly tents, food and medicine, given the potentially devastating impact of water-borne diseases resulting from water contamination.

For over 40 years, the Sahrawi refugees have lived in make-shift houses and tents while in exile owing to the illegal occupation of their country, Sahrawi Republic by Morocco. Decisions of the AU Assembly have consistently condemned this illegal occupation, calling for the right to self-determination of the people of Sahrawi Republic.
Jacob Enoh Eben, Spokesperson of the Chairperson, +251 911 201 632 or +251 934 996 893 Email: EnohebenJ@africa-union.org

For further information contact

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail:
dic@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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Directorate of Information and Communication
Directorate of Information and Communication
Information and Communication
African Union Commission

Tel: +251-11-5517700
Email: DIC@africa-union.org
Web: www.au.int

The African Union and European Union re-affirm commitment to strengthen partnership

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 20 October 2015: The African Union and the European Union have reaffirmed their commitments to strengthen their partnership. The African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, reaffirmed these commitments as they discussed approaches to critical issues impacting both Africa and Europe.

They met in Addis Ababa, on Tuesday 20 October 2015, during the first official visit of the European Union High Representative and Vice President. The EU HR/VP also utilised the opportunity to address the AU’s Permanent Representative Council (PRC), and members of the diplomatic corps in Addis Ababa.

The bilateral dialogue, a follow up to the conversations held in Brussels in April in 2014, served as a route for devising a way forward with regards to the AU/EU partnership. The conversation was centred on issues of migration, peace and security, climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the benefits of regional cooperation and integration, among others. The AU Commission Chairperson took the opportunity to highlight the AU’s medium and long-term approaches in addressing the issue of migration, , highlighting the fact that when the youthful population migrates out of Africa it should be out of choice and not out of desperation.

During the bilateral discussions, Dr. Dlamini Zuma reiterated her position that the AU is keen to see a partnership not only “based on the exportation of natural resources from Africa to Europe”, but on “long-term investment and technology transfer, to boost industrialisation and job creation.”

On the issue of climate change, the AU Commission Chairperson affirmed that mitigation and adaption remain “central to the agenda”, and all parties “need to be accountable on the basis of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.” Dr. Dlamini Zuma further emphasised that efforts need to be centred on the generation of clean energy.

The EU HR/VP agreed that it is crucial to coordinate efforts in addressing the climate change problem, because no one is safe from the repercussions and all will suffer the consequences of inaction. She asserted that “concrete commitments” are needed to ensure that a deal is reached at the upcoming Conference of Parties (COP) to be held in Paris later this year. The EU Chief also mentioned that given all the work that is currently underway, she is “confident in the possibility of great results.”

On the matter of peace and security in Africa, Dr. Dlamini Zuma reaffirmed that cooperation is essential, because there is “never a guarantee that conflicts will not erupt, but we can take charge in our attempts to manage and solve them.” Here she cited the Ebola outbreak of 2014 and the collaboration that was necessary to contain it. Ms. Mogherini, concurring that “managing a crisis before it becomes conflict is the best approach”, stressed that African players must bear the main responsibility and take the lead, as local actors are critical to the prevention and containment of conflict.

In her keynote address, the EU HR/VP, after citing this quote by Nelson Mandela: “Africa is a region of vast untapped potential”, said that “making the most of Africa’s potential is the goal of the AU/EU partnership”. She also affirmed that Africa’s greatest natural resource is its people, and although Africa is already getting stronger, it will to do so even more markedly when it cashes in on its demographic dividend by 2025.

Ms. Mogherini also raised the question of whether or not the international community is willing to listen to Africa. According to the EU Diplomat, Europe is willing because “there is a new generation in Europe who is looking at Africa with new eyes”. She emphasised the need to focus on a common future, with the new question being “what can we do with Africa, what can we do together?”

Before the delivered of the keynote address, the Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission, Erastus Mwencha, welcomed the EU HR/VP on her first ever official visit to the AU. He highlighted various areas of cooperation between the AU and the EU, hailing the long-standing partnership between the two regional bodies and expressed AU’s gratitude for the support and assistance that the EU has been providing to the AU.

Directorate of Information and Communication

Directorate of Information and Communication | Information and Communication | African Union Commission
Tel: +251-11-5517700 | Fax: | E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.int

Addis Ababa | Ethiopia