Events

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 28 August 2015: The African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will arrive in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on Friday 28 August 2015, to bid farewell to the outgoing President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka.

The AU Commission Chairperson will be joined by the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Community for Africa (ECA), Dr. Carlos Lopes. Both leaders of prime African continental institutions will hold a closed meeting with Dr. Kaberuka, as well as speak at one of the farewell functions organised for the outgoing AfDB President.

Since assuming her responsibilities at the AU Commission in the last quarter of 2012, Dr. Dlamini Zuma has worked very closely with Dr. Donald Kaberuka on wide area of issues of continental interest. The AUC, ECA and the AfDB have worked together on various programmes, projects and activities to advance Africa’s integration agenda, including shaping Africa’s Agenda 2063 development blueprint.

The leadership collaboration was exemplified in the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease; their joint solidarity visits to the affected countries.

Dr. Donald Kaberuka leaves the AfDB on 1 September after providing 10 years of outstanding service and leadership.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, a former Minister of Agriculture of Nigeria, is succeeding him. Dr. Adesina was elected in May 2015 during the 50th Annual Meeting of the African Development Bank.

TF/JEE

Sehenemariam Hailu

Secretary | Information & Communications Directorate | African Union Commission
Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: SehenemariamH@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.int

Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 26 August 2015: The Acting Joint Special Representative for the African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), Amb. Abiodun Oluremi Bashua, briefed the African Union Commission Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, on the latest humanitarian and political developments in Darfur and the region. The briefing took place during the Ambassador's visit, on 26 August 2015, to the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The AU Commission Chairperson restated the need for the conflicting parties to find a peaceful solution to the on-going violence in the Darfur region for the sake of its people. She also called for an inclusive National Dialogue to start without delay and without pre-conditions.

She appreciated the important role played by both the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and UNAMID in facilitating the resolution of the conflict in Darfur and encouraged both to persevere in their efforts.

The two personalities agreed that everything must be done to improve the situation of the internally displaced people, especially the women and children, who are the most vulnerable.

FS/SB

PRESS RELEASE Nº195/2015

AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON IN HIGH LEVEL DISCUSSIONS WITH KEY US REPRESENTATIVES

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 24 August 2015- The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma held wide ranging discussions with a high level delegation from the United States on 24th August, aimed at enhancing relations and cooperation between the USA and Africa. This is the fourth such meeting to be held between the two sides.

The US delegation was from the Congress and Senate and was led by Senator Chris Coons of the state of Delaware. In the meeting, attended by Commissioners of the AUC, Dr Dlamini Zuma briefly updated the visiting delegation on the key possible areas of enhanced cooperation.

Top of the agenda was health, where the Chairperson spoke of the need for the continent to strengthen its health systems. She observed that the Ebola outbreak that has taken the lives of thousands of Africans over the past two years provided valuable lessons for the continent and has also contributed to the development of an experienced corps of health workers. She said the continent is now in the process of setting up the Africa Center for Disease Control. However, she added that the long term solution to strengthening African health systems is to strengthen its economies.

On peace and security, Dr Dlamini Zuma noted that the AU is using its peace and security architecture in conflict prevention, as well as intervening where conflicts break out. The continent, she said, has taken a decision to silence the guns so as to develop a culture of resolving conflicts through dialogue and engagement. But, the Chairperson indicated the need for adequate and sustainable resources to execute its mandate of restoring peace.

“Our biggest contribution to peace and security are the men and women on the ground. There is no lack of solidarity and determination from Africa. But what would be ideal is to have more predictable and sustainable resources”, she informed the visitors.

Another critical factor brought up for discussion was the development and mainstreaming of youth and women in Africa. “If we don’t pay attention to youth it will be at our own peril”, Dr Dlamini Zuma cautioned, adding that the AU is concentrating on developing higher learning and skills development. She also called for more access to finance and resources for women engaged in agriculture and agro processing.

The AUC Chairperson noted the use of clean energies as an area of potential cooperation between the USA and Africa, especially at this time that the continent is pushing for more development and prosperity. In order to avoid being big polluters, she suggested that the continent should be assisted to adopt renewable energy instead of relying on fossil fuels.

The blue economy was another area brought up in the discussions, with the Chairperson saying that the continent has launched an African decade of oceans. African women, she added, have launched an organisation of women in maritime so as to be part of the development.

The Chairperson also took time to explain that African Union summits offer immunity to those who attend, in the same way that pertains to delegates to the United Nations general assembly meetings. This remark was by way of explaining the attendance of the Sudanese President Mr Omar Al Bashir at the last AU summit held in Johannesburg in June this year.

The Chairperson appealed to the Senators to facilitate for the U.S. to grant the African Union’s Observer Mission to the United Nations the required immunities and privileges as reiterated by the recent Summit of Heads of State and Government, reciprocating to the arrangements the AU offers the U.S. observer missions to the AU.

Other issues discussed in the meeting related to good governance, democracy and human rights, the fight against corruption, sustainable wildlife management, free movement of people and goods across the continent, infrastructure, climate change and reform of the United Nations to ensure that Africa gets permanent representation on the Security Council.

In response, the head of the US delegation Senator Chris Coon expressed his appreciation for the time taken by the AUC leadership to discuss such a broad range of issues. The US ambassador to the African Union Mr Reuben Brigety attended the meeting. Apart from the Chairperson, the AUC delegation consisted of the Commissioner of Political Affairs Dr Aisha Abdullahi, the Commissioner of Social Affairs Dr Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko and other senior members of the Commission. WZM

For information:

Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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

Press Release Nº192/2015

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 19 August 2015: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and the Chairperson of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), Mrs. Fatima Beyina-Moussa, discussed challenges and opportunities facing African carriers on the continent. They also talked about the move towards achieving African open skies, when they met for the first time, on Wednesday 19 August 2015, at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mrs. Beyina-Moussa, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Equatorial Congo Airlines, (ECAir), expressed AFRAA’s concerns that Africa’s skies are not fully liberalised, and the urgent need to implement the Yamoussoukro Decision. “Right now it is difficult to travel within Africa. African airlines did not understand before the importance of Yamoussoukro but now are committed to the liberalisation of Africa’s skies,” she noted the positive progress. Since the African Union Summit in January 2015, 11 Member States have already agreed to open their skies.

The AU Commission Chairperson commends the progress made and sees it as a motivation for others to follow suit. “The 11 countries should go ahead to show that it is possible, and the others will come around when they are ready. Opening our skies only to non-African airlines will only lead to the disappearance of African airlines,” Dr. Dlamini Zuma stressed.

African carriers still face a number of challenges especially fuel and services cost, inadequate infrastructure, lack of human resources and competition from non-African airlines. However, the prospects and benefits from open skies in Africa are great –it will create more jobs especially for the youth and improve the movement of people and goods within the continent, hence, enhancing intra-Africa trade.

AFRAA has 30 African airlines and serves as a continental body to promote and protect their common interests. The AU works closely with AFRAA to lobby Member States to promote the liberalisation of African skies.

SB/JEE

Press Release Nº189/2015

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 14 August 2015: It is imperative that all parties convene to participate in genuine dialogue in order to find a peaceful, consensual and long-lasting solution to the crisis facing Burundi. This is the main message that came out of the meeting between the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and a delegation of international partners held on 14 August 2015, to discuss the ongoing crisis in Burundi.

The delegation of international partner missions to the AU, comprising of representatives from the United States of America, the European Union, Belgium, Germany and United Kingdom, congratulated the Chairperson of the AU Commission for her personal, and the AU’s unrelenting efforts and engagement to finding a peaceful solution to the ongoing crisis. They reiterated their support to the AU Commission in its efforts to lead the way towards an appeasement in Burundi in order to avoid any deterioration in the current state of affairs.

The Chairperson of the AUC also extended her appreciation for the continued support and concern that the international community has expressed for the resolution of the conflict in Burundi. She also reinforced the need for collaborative efforts by all stakeholders to ensure that stability returns to the country. In this respect, she called for the opposition in the country to engage in the dialogue which is being mediated by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

The meeting once again urged all parties involved to urgently and seriously intensify their efforts to restore peace in this country of the Great Lakes, emphasising the need for the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

FS/JEE/WZM