Addis Ababa, 21 May 2018: A delegation of students from the Department of Political Science, University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada, on 18 May 2018, visited the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The students, led by Dr. Katharina P. Coleman, Associate Professor in Political Science, University of British Columbia, were on a study trip to the AU headquarters to learn more about the activities of the Union, as part of a course on “African Security from African Perspectives”.

The course seeks to familiarize senior UBC undergraduate students with key actors and dynamics in contemporary African international relations and provides them an opportunity to study important African security issues. After a semester of instruction at UBC, course members embarked on the journey to Addis Ababa to seek a greater understanding of how actors in and around the African Union Headquarters view these security issues.

During the visit at the AU, the students were welcomed by officials from the Directorate of Information and Communication (DIC) of the African Union Commission (AUC), who facilitated the briefing session with the resource persons from the different AUC departments.

The briefings included the following thematic areas:
• “The challenges of protecting civilians in Internally Displaced People's camps, including from abuses by peacekeepers”, presented by a representative from the Peace and Security Department;
• The “Contemporary migration through North Africa to Europe, including AU-EU cooperation in managing this migration”, presented by a representative from Social Affairs Department;
• “AU efforts to promote and consolidate democratic governance in Africa, presented by a representative from the Department of Political Affairs; and
• “The situation of long-term refugees in East Africa, especially Kenya and Uganda” presented by representative from the Departments of Political Affairs and Social Affairs.

The briefings were followed by an interactive questions and answers session which concluded in a guided tour of the AU including visits of the different Conference Rooms and premises of the AU.

The study trip was an opportunity for the students to research in their areas of interest, to result in a class presentation at UBC at which all class members and some invited guests (including family members and UBC officials) will be present. It may also result in subsequent academic publications.

Worth noting that, the educative tours at the AU falls within the framework of the “Know Your African Union Campaign” launched by the DIC in January 2016 with the view to popularize the activities of the Union, and to enlighten the population about the African Union. To that effect, the Division of Information of the DIC has been organizing guided tours and educative briefings to visitors, notably, University Students and academicians; professionals in different areas of interest to provide them with information about the work of the AU Commission

The objective of the briefings and guided tour at the AU headquarters is also to enable visitors know more about the Continental Organisation, its vision and missions as well as to provide them with information material with the view to enlighten and educate them on the activities of the AU so as to enhance more visibility of the Commission and promote the image of the African Union to the world.

Media contacts:
Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information Division, Tel: +251 911361185, / E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org /
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission II Addis Ababa | Ethiopia / Web Site: www.au.africa
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