Au weekly 6 may 2014

AU WEEKLY

28 April- May 5, 2014 AU WEEKLY

…keeping you updated @Oxfam_AU Oxfam

Oxfam International Liaison Office with the African Union: OI-AU

In this issue

AU not inviting observers to Malabo Summit The African Union has announced that due to “space constraints and the need to rationalize time management for the consideration of the heavy agenda for the 23rd Summit meeting scheduled to be held in Malabo, Equitorial Guinea, from 23 to 27 June 2014, it has been decided that no Observer or Guest will be invited to the said Summit”.

In communication to embassies of Non-African States and Organizations Accrediated to the AU dated 24 April, 2014, the African Union however announced that “Observers and other Guests will be invited to the Summit meetings in January 2015”.

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China-AU sign agreements on ending poverty

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AU gears up for the fight against terrorism

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Grow Africa puts $7.2 billion to agriculture

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AU recommits to silencing the guns in Africa

PEACE AND SECURITY Calls for stiffer penalties against unconstitutional govts On 29 April 2014, AU PSC held an open session on “Unconstitutional changes of Governments (UCG) and popular uprisings in Africa – challenges and lessons learnt”. This open session provided an avenue for a deep reflection on the elements that constitute an unconstitutional change of government on one hand, and how to respond on the other, to popular uprising that result in a change of government that is not constituent with constitutional provision.

the continent continues to face the challenge of UCG and popular uprising. Both Participants and Council noted that unconstitutional changes of government and popular uprisings were deeply rooted in governance deficiencies. They stressed that in situations of greed, selfishness, mismanagement of diversity, mismanagement of opportunity, marginalization, abuse of human rights, refusal to accept electoral defeat, manipulation of constitution, as well as unconstitutional During the session, participants review of constitution to acknowledged that in spite serve narrow interest and of the efforts deployed, corruption, among other

factors, are potent triggers for unconstitutional changes of government and popular uprisings.

Council agreed to establish a subcommittee to undertake an in-depth review of the existing normative frameworks, with a view to developing a consolidated AU framework on how to respond to situations of UCG and popular uprisings so as to ensure a predictable, consistent and coherent response to any future unconstitutional changes of government.

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

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AU recommits to silencing the guns in Africa The AU convened a HighLevel Retreat on the theme Silencing Guns in Africa: Building a Roadmap to a Conflict-Free Continent, on 28-29 April 2014 in Durban, South Africa to lay a foundation for the subsequent elaboration of a

Roadmap towards a conflictfree Africa.

Convened under the leadership of AUC Chairperson, Dr. Dlamini Zuma and the AUC PS Commissioner, Amb. Smail Chergui, the retreat reflected

on the current and on-going efforts to consolidate the growing positive trends in areas of democracy and governance, the continent’s ability to rapidly respond to conflicts and crises. http://www.peaceau.org/en/article/ press-release-of-the-high-level-retreaton-28-29-april-2014-in-durban-southafrica-on-the-theme-silencing-guns-inafrica-building-a-roadmap-to-a-conflictfree-continent#sthash.6Mk8hurZ.dpuf

African Union geares up for the fight against terrorism On 30th April 2014 the AU reiterated its commitment to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) in Africa, a resolution adopted 10 years ago aimed at preventing non-State actors and terrorists from acquiring, proliferating and using nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery.

The resolution also requires Member States to refrain from providing support to nonstate actors; enact legislation establishing prohibitions; as well as implement domestic

controls over such materials to prevent unauthorized use and trafficking.

AUC Chairperson, stressed that the evolving threat of terrorism on the continent and the terrorists’ determination to inflict destruction through all means possible required continued efforts by the Member States, individually and collectively, to protect the continent and its people against such threats. She upheld the entry into force, on 26 February 2014, of the AU Protocol on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism,

which was adopted in July 2000 and called on Member States to renew their efforts to prevent and combat terrorism.

The Chairperson also rereiterated the Commission’s commitment to provide the necessary assistance and support to Member States in meeting their obligations pursuant to resolution 1540 http://www.peaceau.org/en/ article/the-au-reiterates-itscommitment-to-work-towardsthe-effective-implementation-ofun-security-council-resolution1540-2004-in-africa#sthash.

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS AND LIVELIHOODS Grow Africa committed $7.2 Billion to agricultural investment Partners in Grow Africa, a program by the World Economic Forum, NEPAD and the African Union, said it doubled its agricultural investment commitments from companies to $7.2 billion by the end of 2013, its annual report released last week showed.

Grow Africa was established to help accelerate the transformation of agriculture on the continent and ensure that agribusiness contributes to both economic growth and food security. It has already invested $970 million, which has directly created employment for over 33,000

people and helped 2.6 million African farmers access farm inputs.

Assistance it provides to smallholders includes provision of new services, sourcing, contracts or training.

` http://afkinsider.com/54748/grow-africa-partners-committed-7-2-billionagricultural-investment/

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AU WEEKLY China-AU sign raft of agreements on poverty reduction China and Africa reached important consensus on strengthening cooperation on poverty reduction.

According to a joint declaration issued during Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to the African Union (AU) headquarters in the Ethiopian capital on May 5, China and Africa are committed to strengthening their efforts in poverty reduction and

standing together to face challenges brought by poverty.

Noting that the task of poverty reduction is still formidable for both China and Africa, the document said it is in the common interests of both sides to conduct cooperation on the existing solid foundation.

China and Africa agreed

that global development partnership should be enhanced and joint efforts be made to make poverty reduction a priority task in international development cooperation, the document said. Both sides agreed to continue to use the ChinaAfrica Poverty Reduction and Development Conference as a platform to discuss strategies and policies of

` http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90883/8617836.html

UPCOMING EVENTS DATE

EVENT

VENUE

DEPARTMENT

CONTACT

Office of the Legal Counsel

May 6-16

Meeting of Experts and Ministers of Justice,

Prof. Vincent O. Nmehielle Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Office of the Legal Counsel

Tel.(251) 11-5-182306 Fax : (251) 11-5-182323 E-mail: NmehielleV@africaunion.org

May 8

AU PSC Open Session on children in armed conflict

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Peace and Security

African Union Peace and Security Department Tel. +251 115 515143/ 516329 Fax: +251 115 519321/ 514227 Email: webmaster@peaceau. org

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May 12-16

Regional Seminar on International Trade Statistics

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Economic Affairs

Director of Economic Affairs Dr RenÊ N’guettia Kouassi Tel.: (251) 11-551 77 00 Ext 192 Fax : (251) 11-551 78 44 E-mail: deconomic@africaunion.org

Secretariat of the Annual Meetings

May 19-23

African Development Bank Annual Meetings

Kigali, Rwanda

African Development Bank Group

African Development Bank BP 323 - 1002, Tunis, Belvedere, Tunisia Telephone : +216 71 102 805 Fax : +216 71 832 035 / +216 71 833 414

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