Au weekly 19 march 2014

AU WEEKLY

19- 26 March , 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

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South Sudan Commission of Inquiry sworn-in

PSC holds induction for New Members

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PSC holds induction for New Members

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Namibia honours its pledge to AU efforts in Central African Republic (MISCA)

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Japan donates $5 million to AU for CAR, Sudan and South Sudan

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President Salva Kirr Mayardit attends IGAD Extra-Ordinary Summit

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MISCA welcomes Progress in Rebuilding the CAR Armed Forces

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The African Union urges Libyan stakeholders to resolve differences

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AMISOM, Somali National Army capture the sixth town from AlShabaab

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The AU Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights to visit South Sudan in Early January

The Peace and Security Council, through Mozambique, Chair of the Month of March and the AUC Peace and Security Council Secretariat organised an induction workshop newly elected and returning members of the PSC in Debre Zeit from 14 to 15 March 2014. In order to enhance collaboration and cooperation between the PSC and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), in the area of peace, security and stability in Africa, the PSC invited the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and Oxfam international Liaison Office to the African Union to make presentations on Insights of research institutions regarding peace and security in Africa and the role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa respectively.

PSC new members for the two year tenure (2014 – 2016) include Burundi, Chad, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Libya, Namibia, South Africa, Gambia, Guinea and Niger.

Further Reading: http://www.peaceau.org

South Sudan Commission of Inquiry sworn-in Members of the Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan appointed on 7 March 2014 by the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma have been sworn in. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is the chair of the commission, appointed alongside him are 4 members tasked with providing accountability,

reconciliation and healing.

During his preliminary address, President Obasanjo gave his assurances to the Commission that he will leave no stone unturned, and in accordance with the mandate and terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry, that those responsible must not get away with impunity.

The Commission is expected to investigate human rights violations and other abuses committed during the armed conflict that broke out in South Sudan in mid-December 2013. It is expected to submit its report to the Peace and Security Council in 3 months.

Further Reading: http://www. peaceau.org

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Namibia honours its pledge to AU efforts in Central African Republic On Friday 14 March, the AU received USD 500,000 from Namibia to the Peace Fund to support the financing of the African-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA). Namibia had made

this pledge in response to the request by AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) at its 413th meeting held on 16 January 2014, for the AU Member States to mobilize adequate support for the MISCA to help resolve the

multidimensional crisis in the CAR. Namibia responded to this appeal during the Donors’ Conference held on 1 February 2014.

Further reading: www.peaceau.org

Japan donates $5 million to AU for CAR, Sudan and South Sudan Japan handed over a cheque of usd50 million to the African Union to support civilian components of the African led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic as well as other stability initiatives in South Sudan

and Sudan. Speaking during the handover ceremony on Friday 14th March, Japan Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the AU, H.E. Mr. Kazuhiro Suzuki stated that the contribution demonstrates Japan’s acknowledgment

of the value of the AU intervention in CAR and it confidence in Africa’s ability to address this and other conflicts in the region.

Further reading: www.peaceau.org

President Salva Kirr Mayardit attends IGAD Extra-Ordinary Summit Republic of South Sudan President, Salva Kiir was among IGAD Heads of State and Government that attended the 12th IGAD Summit to discuss the situation in South Sudan held in Addis Ababa on 13th March 2014. The Summit was also attended by the leaders of Sudan, Djibouti, Kenya,

Uganda and Somalia; as well as the AUC Chairperson and the IGAD Executive Secretary. The Summit authorised the deployment of a protection and Deterrent Force (PDF) with troops from IGAD member states as part of the IGAD Monitoring and Verification Mechanism in South Sudan.

It also denounced and condemned all human rights violations committed in South Sudan and welcomed the establishment of the AU Commission of Inquiry.

`Further Reading:

http://issuu.com/ brendachikwehelenmofya/ docs/final_communqiue_ of_25th_extra-ordi

MISCA welcomes Progress in Rebuilding the CAR Armed Forces The African-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic - CAR (MISCA) welcomes continuing progress in rebuilding the Armed Forces of the country. The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission in CAR and Head of MISCA,

General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko welcomes the efforts of the CAR Transition Authorities to reconstitute the country’s security forces and pledges the AU’s support in that regard. The Special Representative noted with satisfaction that, according to the CAR military authorities, nearly 70 percent

of members of the FACA have reported back for work and that efforts are being exerted to encourage those who have not yet resumed their duties to do so.

`Further reading: www.peaceau.org

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AU WEEKLY The African Union urges Libyan stakeholders to resolve differences AUC Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, on 13th March 2014 expressed concern over the continued instability and insecurity in Libya. The Chairperson reaffirms AU’s support to the efforts aimed at stabilizing the security and political

situation, strengthening state authority throughout the national territory, and ensuring the early completion of the ongoing transition. She also stressed the need for all concerned to cease all activities that further complicate the

situation and appealed Libyan stakeholders to commit themselves to settle their differences by peaceful means and to work towards national dialogue and reconciliation.

Further reading: www.peaceau.org

AMISOM, Somali National Army capture the sixth town from Al-Shabaab On 13 March 2014, the Somali National Army (SNA) backed by AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops captured an Al-Shabaab stronghold, Buula Burde town in Hiraan region, bringing to six the number of towns liberated from Al- Qaeda– linked terrorists in the past two weeks, a top AU official

has said. The AU Special Representative for Somalia and Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif, said the capture of Buula Burde town was a major victory for the SNA and AMISOM forces and a boost for the peace restoration process in Somalia. So far, the joint operations

between the Somali National Army and AMISOM which began in March have so far liberated the top 5 cities in the Bay and Bakool regions in Sector 3, namely Hudur, Rabdhure,Ted, Weel dheyn and Burdhubow.

Further reading: www.peaceau.org

The AU Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights to visit South Sudan in Early January Following the swearing in ceremony of its members, on 12th March 2014 the South Sudan Commission of Inquiry on Human rights adopted its terms of reference, outlined a work plan and agreed on the required support to fulfill its mandate.

According to a press release issued by the AUC,

the Commission of Inquiry identified initial activities to be undertaken in the coming weeks, including meetings with the Government of South Sudan, the armed opposition and other South Sudanese stakeholders; consultations with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD);

AU bodies such as the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) as well as international actors, notably, the United Nations; nongovernmental organizations and other relevant bodies.

Further reading: www.peaceau.org

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MISCA completes escort of humanitarian supplies The African-led International Support Mission in the Central African RepublicCAR (MISCA), on 11th March 2014 completed the escort of another 120 vehicles into Bangui. Most of the vehicles were heavy-duty trucks transporting shipping containers loaded with commercial goods and humanitarian supplies from the Cameroon seaport of

Douala into the CAR. This brings to 1,205 the total number of vehicles MISCA has successfully escorted from the Cameroon border to the CAR capital, since the Mission was launched on 19 December 2013. The supplies will be handed over to the CAR authorities, in accordance with international Human Rights and Humanitarian law.

` Further reading: www.peaceau.org

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS AND LIVELIHOODS Africa to speak and act as one on extractive industry issues On March 17 2014, the AUC Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Mining, who doubles as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Southern and Eastern African

Mineral Centre (SEAMIC), and acting together on H.E. Najib Balal, met in commodities and mining Addis Ababa to discuss the issues and collectively challenges and opportunities working to attain the African in the African mining sector. Mining Vision The two agreed on the importance of the continent ` Further reading: coherently speaking www.peaceau.org

Tourism within Agenda 2063 On 14 March, the Ministerial Working Group on Tourism met in Seychelles to discuss strategies on how to make an African brand through tourism while attracting visitors to choose Africa as major destination in the context of AU Agenda 2063.

Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Dr. Elham Mamoud Ibrahim in her opening speech said that, “This strategy which envisages Africa’s prosperity

in the next 50 years since 2013 is known as the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063.

It will be comprehensive and articulate on the aspirations of the African peoples in all their socioeconomic endeavours”. The Commissioner added that the AUC is well aware of the huge direct and indirect contribution of tourism to the economies of African countries at both macro and micro levels.

The ministers requested the AUC to engage with the UNWTO to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in tourism development strategies in Africa as one of the concrete outcomes to move agenda 2063 forward.

` Further reading: www.ie.au.int

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AU WEEKLY

UPCOMING EVENTS DATE

18 March

18- 22 March

19- 24 March

21- 24 March

24 March

EVENT Participation of the PSC Chair at the Pan-African Parliament loth Anniversary Day Celebration as a “Special Guest” 10th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Partnership Platform 17th Edition of the Africa– Arab Fair on“Enhancing Africa-Arab Cooperation in Health and Extra-Ordinary Conference of African Ministers of Economy and Finance (CAMEF)

Consideration of the Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the situations in Mali and the Sahel;

VENUE

DEPARTMENT

CONTACT

South Africa

Durban, South Africa

Dept. of Rural Economy and Agriculture

Casablanca, Morocco

Abuja, Nigeria

African Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Peace and Security

African Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Peace and Security

Briefing on the Situation in Somalia

25 March

Open session on mitigating vulnerabilities of women and children in armed conflicts in Africa

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