AU WEEKLY
21- 28 April, 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 US Secretary of State visits Africa Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Luanda, Angola, on April 29-May 5 to encourage democratic development, promote respect for human rights, advance peace and security, engage with civil society and young African leaders who will shape the continent’s future, and promote trade, investment and development partnerships in Africa. In Addis Ababa, Secretary Kerry will co-convene the Fourth Session of the U.S.-AU High-Level Dialogue and discuss a range of issues on which we partner with the African Union (AU). Secretary Kerry will meet with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom to discuss efforts to advance peace and democracy in the region, and strengthen important areas of bilateral cooperation with Ethiopia. In Kinshasa, Kerry will meet with President Joseph Kabila and will discuss the DRC’s progress in neutralizing some of the armed groups that victimize the Congolese people and how to best advance the DRC’s democratization and long-term stability, including through a timely and transparent electoral process.
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AU Commission of Inquiry on first visit to South Sudan
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AU PSC asked for quick response to early warning systems
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Egypt asked to immediately suspend 529 death sentences
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African smallholder farmers hailed as ‘game changer’
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African trade ministers convege to discuss ways to boost intra trade
http://www.state. gov/r/pa/prs/ ps/2014/04/225186. htm
AU Commission of Inquiry on first field mission to South Sudan The African Union (AU) Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan is on its first field mission to South Sudan from April 21st April to 1st May 2014. This mission comes as part of AU efforts to end the conflict that broke out in South Sudan in mid-December 2013, and ensure the emergence of an environment of sustainable peace that would enable
a sustainable democratic culture to emerge in the country. Headed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the mission will include the Commission members namely; Professor Mahmood Mamdani, Ms. Bineta Diop, Professor Pacifique Manirakiza and Lady Justice Sophia Akuffo and AUC
technical support team. The Commission intends to meet with President Salva Kiir, government officials and Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNMISS. The Commission will also meet with former Vice President Riek Machar and the opposition group
http://www.peaceau. org/en/
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AU PSC asked for quick response to early warning systems On April 24, the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the AU held an open session on the theme: “Silencing the Guns: Pre-requisites for Realising a Conflict-Free Africa by the Year 2020”. Participants and Council agreed on the need
for rapid, appropriate and courageous response to early warnings on potential outbreaks of violent conflicts. There were calls for the further strengthening of all existing preventive diplomacy tools, including the Panel of the
Wise and the Continental Early Warning System and to ensure quick response when the need arises.
http://www.peaceau.org/ uploads/press-statementof-430th-psc-meeting-24april-2014.pdf
Egypt asked to immediately suspend 529 death sentences The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has requested that Egypt immediately suspends the death penalties of 529 people on 22nd March. The order comes as part of a package of interim measures, which were ordered following a
complaint submitted by the Freedom & Justice Party (JFP) on behalf of the 529. The Commission noted that the ‘number of people allegedly sentenced to death is the highest recorded in the recent past from a single mass trial’ and ‘the manner in
which the death penalty was imposed was a complete sham’ and constitutes ‘collective punishment’.
https://www. middleeastmonitor.com/ news/africa/11122-africancommission-orders-egypt-tosuspend-death-sentences
AU forces in CAR capture commander of Lord’s Resistance Army The African Union-led Regional Task Force (AURTF) troops in the Central African Republic (CAR), on 21 April 2014, captured a commander of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Lt. Charles Okello. During the
battle in which Lt. Charles Walkie Talkie radio. The AU Okello was captured, the Forces are continuing to AU-RTF troops also rescued track other members of the three women and seven group to which Lt Charles children, and recovered one Okello belonged. (01) sub-machine gun, three ` (03) hunters’ rifles, assorted http://www.peaceau.org/ ammunition and one (01)
en/article/press-release
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS AND LIVELIHOODS African Smallholder Agriculture is the ‘game Changer’ AFRICA’S Ministers of Agriculture are meeting in Addis Ababa this week to debate the policies that will shape an agricultural market. One thing is certain: we should never underestimate
Africa’s entrepreneurial drive or the potential of our millions of smallholder farmers to feed Africa and the world. Africa’s smallholder farmers can be agriculture’s game changer. Eighty percent of the food
we eat in Africa is produced by smallholder farmerspeople who tend crops and raise livestock on less than a hectare of land-and most of them are women.
`http://allafrica.com/stories/201404280133.html
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AU WEEKLY African trade ministers told to boost intra-trade AFRICAN Ministers in charge of Trade have converged in Addis Ababa to discuss ways of boosting intra Africa trade. African Union Commissioner for Trade, Fatima Haram said in Addis Ababa on Sunday, April 26, that Africa should to speak with one voice and address all challenges that had made it difficult to boost intra Africa trade.
Commissioner Haram was speaking during the official opening of the Extra Ordinary Session of the Conference of the Africa Union (AU) Ministers of Trade. She said most African countries were battling with challenges such as youth unemployment adding that when trade increased among African countries, many jobs would be created
UPCOMING EVENTS DATE April 28--March 2
April 26-28
EVENT AU Joint Conference of Ministers of Agriculture, Rural Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Extraordinary Session of the Conference of the African Union Ministers of Trade
VENUE
for young people. Ms Haram said AU Member States should be focused and ensure that they established the Continental Free Trade Area which would make it easier for them to trade among themselves without any barriers and boost economic development on the continent.
` http://www.times co.zm/?p=20609
DEPARTMENT
CONTACT
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Rural Economy and Agriculture
Ms. Carol Jilombo; Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, AU Commission; +251-927-171 908; jilomboc@ africa-union.org; www.au.int
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Trade and Indusrty
Mrs. Treasure Thembisile MAPHANGA Director, Trade & Industry African Union Commission Tel.: + (251) 011 5 18 29 56 E-mail: maphangaT@africaunion.org
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April 29
April 30
Open session on preliminary discussion on unconstitutional changes of government and popular uprisings in Africa: Challenges and Lessons learnt
Addis Ababa, Ethiopa
Briefing by the Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council for April 2014 to the PRC
Addis Ababa, Ethiopa
Peace and Security
Situation Room Peace and Security Department AU Commission Email:ausituationroom@yahoo. com
Peace and Security
Peace and Security Department AU Commission Email:ausituationroom@yahoo. com
March 28-30
African Union Expert Consultation Meeting on Children and Social Protection in Africa
Cape Town, South Africa
Social Affairs
Dr. Olawale Maiyegun Director, Department of Social Affairs African Union Commission E-Mail: MaiyegunO@africa-union.org
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