17th African Union Summit Summit

Opening of AU Summit Hears Need to Heed Lessons from
North Africa

African Press Organization (APO) 
July 1, 2011

http://www.starafrica.com/en/news/detail-news/view/17th-au-summit-opening-of-au-summit-he-175136.html

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea

The African Union Commission Chairperson Dr Jean Ping
today said the popular uprisings in North Africa should
be seen as an opportunity for AU member states to renew
their commitment to the AU agenda for democracy and
governance and to implement socio economic reforms that
are demanded by their people.

Furthermore, the Commission underscored the importance
of achieving peace, saying there could be no
development otherwise.

Speaking at the official opening ceremony of the 17th
Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union
in Malabo, Dr Ping delivered an impassioned and
powerful speech in which he exhorted Africa to speak
with one voice in resolving conflicts such as the one
in Libya. He stressed that it is the Libyans themselves
who should take ownership of the democratic change. The
Chairperson commended the efforts of the AU ad hoc
committee seeking to find a solution to the Libyan
situation. He underscored the role of the Commission in
the peace process in Libya, saying the Union's adhoc
committee had drawn up a roadmap before the passing of
UN resolution 1973.

The Chairperson observed that Tunisia and Egypt had
made remarkable progress over the past few months. The
two countries, he said, witnessed a new climate of
pluralistic debate and freedom, which allows the
citizens to be aware and also allows for the
consolidation of a democratic culture. He reported that
he visited the two countries to assure them of the
support of the AU. In addition, the Peace and Security
Council of the AU remains seized with the issue. He
thanked Tunisia and Egypt for hosting the thousands of
refugees who are fleeing Libya.

Mr Ping, who was delivering a review of the situation
in Africa from January to December this year, mainly
focused on peace and security because the period under
review was a difficult one.

He welcomed the impending birth of the new African
state of South Sudan, the 54th member of the African
Union on 9 July- this coming after the January
referendum that confirmed the desire of South Sudan for
independence. To applause from the delegates, the
Chairperson introduced Mr Salva Kirr Mayardit of South
Sudan, who was attending the meeting as an observer,
but is to become the President of the new state.

In Somalia, Dr Ping applauded the "sense of sacrifice
and commitment" of the troops of the AU Mission in
Somalia (AMISOM).

He also applauded the end of the crisis in Cote
D'Ivoire and welcomed its President to the African
Union. He also commended the President for the truth
and reconciliation process and said the African Union
was one of the first institutions to recognise Mr
Outarra's victory.

Mr Ping commended the normalisation of relations
between Sudan and Chad, and noted the return of peace
to the Comoros, Burundi, Liberia, and Guinea Bissau.

He however lamented the continuing stalemate in Western
Sahara and the lack of progress in the normalisation of
relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea and the
difficulties with Madagascar and Djibouti. "The
situations require the attention of the African Union",
he said.

The Chairperson's delivery also gave great importance
and recognition to the role played by the African Union
and African leaders in the resolution of conflicts. Of
note he highlighted the following:

The conclusion of the agreement on security
arrangements in Abyei, Sudan, with the facilitation of
the AU High Implementation Panel led by former
president Thabo Mbeki, and which includes former
presidents Abdulsalami Abubakar and Pierre Buyoya.

The offer by Ethiopian Prime Minister Mr Meles Zenawi
to make Ethiopian troops available as part of the
Interim Force Security for Abyei to facilitate
implementation of the agreement

The role played by President Yoweri Museveni in
facilitating the Kampala agreement which aims to
resolve disputes that pitted Somali leaders against
each other

The contribution of the Chairperson of the Inter
Governmental Authority on Development Mr Meles Zenawi
and his peers in IGAD, in promoting a programme of
peace, stability, democracy in Somalia

President Muhamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Yoweri Museveni,
Ahmadu Toumani Toure, Denis Sassou Nguesso, and Jacob
Zuma were commended for their efforts on Libya as the
high level ad hoc committee on Libya.

Deepening of Democracy in Africa

Dr Ping also noted progress on the continent in terms
of the elections that have been held in some member
states in the past six months, in spite of difficulties
and short comings in some instances. These elections,
he said, bear witness to a "deepening pluralistic
democracy" on the continent. In this respect, he
acknowledged Presidents Elhadj Mahamadou Issoufou of
Niger, Alassane Outarra of Cote D'Ivoire; Yayi Boni of
Benin, Goodluck Jonathan Ebele of Nigeria, Ismail Omar
Guelleh of Djibouti, Yoweri Museveni Yussef of Uganda,
James Alix Michel of the Seychelles, and Idriss Deby of
Chad.

Work being done in fulfilment of other priority areas
of the Commission

On economic integration, Mr. Ping applauded the joint
action undertaken by the Community of Eastern and
Southern Africa (COMESA), Southern African Development
Community (SADC) and the East African Community (ECA)
to create "the biggest free trade area on the
continent".

He referred to the Pan African University as a flagship
project. Its formation was approved last May and the
first three faculties should be launched in September,
the Chairperson said. He also said the Campaign for the
Reduction of Maternal Mortality (CARMMA) is picking up,
with 29 AU member states having launched the campaign
in their countries. With regard to agriculture and the
environment, the Chairperson pointed to the progress
made in the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa
Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), to help
ensure food security. 25 member states have signed the
CAADP compact. In terms of infrastructure development,
Dr Ping said the Commission will continue to give full
attention to the Programme for Infrastructure
Development in Africa (PIDA) programme.

Commission's financial situation

With reference to the financial situation of the
Commission, Mr. Ping said the Commission continues to
ponder over the issue. The AU, he said, needs to be
strong and to be provided with the resources it needs
to ensure stability and development.

Theme of the summit

Addressing the theme of the summit "accelerating youth
empowerment for development", Mr. Ping said the theme
was timely at this crucial moment given their role in
the Arab spring. He said the youth should be
capacitated so that they can contribute meaningfully to
the development of the continent.

Youth are an asset: guest speakers

Deputy United Nations Secretary General Ms Asha Rose
Migiro; Mr. Ahmed Ben Helty Deputy Secretary General of
the League of Arab States; and Mr. Lula Da Silva,
former President of Brazil and special envoy of the
Brazilian President also addressed the opening session.

Ms Migiro dwelt on the UN role in support of the AU's
efforts in peace and security, democracy and
empowerment of African youth.

Mr Ben Helty talked about the great importance of
attending to issues of the youth, citing their power to
effect change, as evidenced by their central role in
the "Arab spring".

Mr Lula Da Silva motivated the summit by explaining
that youth are an asset rather than a problem. He gave
concrete examples of the policies he implemented when
he was Brazil's President to uplift the youth and the
disadvantaged.

Institutionalisation of the AU Youth Charter

Mr. Teodoro Ibiang Nguema, and President of the
Republic of Equatorial Guinea and Chairperson of the
African Union placed emphasis on the need for Africa to
fully finance the African Union. In keeping with the
summit theme, he proposed the institutionalisation of
the AU Youth Volunteer Corp and offered Malabo as the
headquarters for such an institution.

Respect for two former presidents

The opening session observed a minute of silence in
memory of two former Heads of State: i.e. Ange-Felix
Patasse, former President of the Central African
Republic and Frederick Chiluba, former President of the
Republic of Zambia.

Launch of PATTEC, Central Africa

The session also saw the launching of the Pan African
Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign
(PATTEC) activities in the Central African region. (see
separate press release)

Laying of foundation stone for the African Observatory

There was also a ceremony of the laying of the
foundation stone for the African Observatory for
Science, Technology and Innovation. (see separate press
release)

c copyright StarAfrica.com

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