AU WEEKLY
May 19--26, 2014 AU WEEKLY
…keeping you updated @Oxfam_AU Oxfam
Oxfam International Liaison Office with the African Union: OI-AU
In this issue
PEACE AND SECURITY Africa reflects, reviews 10 years of PSC The African Union (AU) on Sunday, May 25, marked the 10th anniversary of its Peace and Security Council (PSC), which was an opportunity for the Council to take stock of its performance, identify challenges and opportunities with a view to effectively promote and maintain peace and stability throughout Africa. At an open session marking this 10th Anniversary held at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, The African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) presented views from Civil Society Organizations on the work of the PSC over the last decade. These were compiled through regional consultations led by ACCORD, Institute of Security Studies (ISS), OXFAM, Crisis Action and WANEP with various non-state actors from across the African continent.
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AU calls for calm in Malawi
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AU Human Rights Court calls for protection of gat rights
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Women of CAR asked become agents of peace
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Africa losing billions in illicit outflow
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AfDB, AU pledge to work together on post-conflict reconstruction
to
For the North Africa consulatations, Oxfam International Liaison Office with the African Union and Crisis Action brought in civil society actors from Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania and Western Sahara who shared experiences and challenges in peace and security. This consultation process was supported by the AU, represented by Dr Admore Kambudzi, the Secretary to the Peace and Security Council. For the non-state actors’ report, please go to http://issuu. com/85991/docs/report_on_perspectives_of_african_n
AU calls for calm as Malawi waits outcome of hotly-contested election AUC Chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma called for the general public and political party leaders in Malawi to exercise utmost resraint in the aftermath of the Presidential and general elections as they await for the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to complete tallying the votes.
This comes after Malawi’s High Court has rejected a decision by President Joyce Banda to annul this week’s general election, after she claimed ihad been marred by rigging. However, the head of the electoral commission said the president did not have the power to annul the vote.
The High Court made its ruling after the commission said that despite problems, the poll remained valid and votecounting would go on. http://www.peaceau.org/ uploads/malawi-electionsauc-chairperson-s-statementaddis-ababa-et-25may-2014-.pdf
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Libyan situation worries the AU Peace and Security Council On May 23, AU Peace and Security Council expressed concern over the proliferation of armed militias in Libya who continue undermining security and weakening the country. The Council then called upon
the AUC Chairperson to urgently appoint a special Envoy who would undertake consultations with the Libyan authorities and other relevant stakeholders and submit a comprehensive report on the situation, including concrete
recommendations on how best the AU can further support the stabilization process in Libya. http://www.peaceau.org/ uploads/psc-436-pressstatement-libya-23-05-2014. pdfm
AU set to launch a free mobile application to keep citizens updated The Peace and Security Department (PSD) has released its free Hybrid Mobile App for SmartPhones and Tablets to enable citizens, policy makers and practitioners to learn more about the African Union; its vision, organs, structures, flag,
anthem and other emblems of the Union and the Union’s peace and security efforts. The App also enables users to stay up to date with the latest news and events on the Africa Peace and Security Archtecture (APSA) and to participate in discussions for
the 2020 Silencing the guns countdown. This innovative App is designed to work on a range of mobile devices and screen sizes.
http://www.peaceau.org/ psc50.html
Women of CAR asked to become agents of peace and reconciliation The AU Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security and UN Women General Secretary were in Bangui, CAR from 24th to 26th May 2014. The visit aimed at highlighting the situation of women and girls who have been particularly adversely affected by conflict and
the resulting humanitarian suffering in the Central African Republic; Identify ways and means to support and empower CAR women to become agents of reconciliation, peace and development, cognizant of the well-known fact that in most conflicts women
play an important but often under-valued role in conflict prevention, management and peace-building and are often sidelined in peace processes and post-conflict state institutions. http://www.peaceau.org/en/
`article/au-un-women-and-
eccas-solidarity-mission-to-thecentral-african-republic#sthash. twDVYVma.dpuf
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS AND LIVELIHOODS African losing billions in illicit outflow: Mbeki Africa incurs losses worth $50 billion every year due to illicit financial outflows by some foreign companies in the continent, former South African president Thabo Mbeki said on Thursday,
May 22 in South Africa at the opening of a threeday conference aimed at discussing solutions to African problemsMbeki, who chairs the African Union’s High-Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows,
said some multinational companies were claiming to be making losses in an effort to evade taxes and illegally export capital from the continent.
`http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/137108/billionslost-to-illicit-outflows-claims-ex-safrica-president
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AU WEEKLY AfDB, AU pledge to work together on post-conflict reconstruction The African Development Bank (AfDB) has declared its intention to work with the African Union (AU) on the implementation of the African Solidarity Initiative (ASI). The formal declaration of support was made by Sibry Tapsoba, Head of the Fragile States Department at AfDB. This was said on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 during a roundtable discussion session on the
ASI during the 49th Annual Meetings of the AfDB, held in Kigali, Rwanda, from May 19 to 23, 2014, on the theme “The next 50 years: The Africa we want”.
and Development programmes in Africa.
The ASI was launched at the 18th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 13, 2012. It is a broad, coordinated platform that aims to increase pledges to Post-Conflict Reconstruction
He also revealed that Algeria, South Africa, Nigeria and The Gambia have already agreed, in principle, to contribute to the ASI’s budget.
UPCOMING EVENTS DATE
EVENT
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Tapsoba stressed the important role that AfDB can play in helping the AU to implement the ASI.
http://allafrica.com/ stories/201405210986.html
CONTACT
Embassy of Uganda in Ethiopia
June
Chair of the Peace and Security Council for the month of March
Kirkos Kifle Ketema, Kebele 35, House 031 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Peace and Security
Addis Ababa Tel: +251.11.551.3114 Email: uganda.emb@telecom. net.et
Dr. Djoudalbaye Benjamin Department of Social Affairs African Union Commission
May 27-28
Meeting of AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) consultative experts committee
P O Box 3243 Mauritania
Social Affairs
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +251 115 52 63 73 Ext 2207 Email::BenjaminD@africa-union. org cc HarakeyeM@africaunion.org
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