Moussa Faki Mahamat who is the Commission chairperson said the decision was taken mainly to pattern with Africa through infrastructure.

“His mandate includes mobilizing further political support from Member States and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and facilitating greater ownership by all concerned stakeholders,” he said.

Raila Odinga will now work with the intention of strengthening the AU’s departments and those of the Planning and Coordinating Agency of New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

“Raila will pay particular attention to the missing links along the transnational highway corridors identified as part of the Trans-African Highways Network, with a view to facilitating their development and modernization,” He added.

The African Union is pleased to have Raila Odinga who brings in his rich political experience and strong commitment to the ideals of Pan-Africanism and African integration.

Raila worked as Energy, Roads, Public Works, and Housing minister between 2001 and 2005 in Kenya. Raila accepted the call by the African Union Commission and promised to serve.

Raila’s office will be in Addis though his role will be comprised of several travels across the world.He will also have an office in Nairobi Kenya with staff and advisers to  work out development strategies with Uhuru.

The post Raila Odinga appointed Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Robert Mugabe and Grace Mugabe

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has refused to resign after meeting generals who have seized control of the country, as sources suggested the veteran leader was “buying time” to negotiate his exit.

The talks in Harare on Thursday come after soldiers this week put Mugabe under house arrest, took over state TV and blockaded main roads in a stunning turnaround for the 93-year-old leader who has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1980.

Mugabe’s motorcade took him from his private residence to the State House for the talks, which were also attended by envoys from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc.

“They met today. He is refusing to step down. I think he is trying to buy time,” said a source close to the army leadership who declined to be named.

Government TV showed Mugabe, the world’s oldest head of state, dressed in a navy blue blazer and grey trousers standing alongside army chief General Constantino Chiwenga who smiled and was dressed in fatigues.

Scathing rebuke 

Zimbabwe was left stunned by this week’s military intervention but attention has swiftly shifted to the prominent figures who could play a role in any transitional government.

Mugabe’s advanced age, poor health and listless public performances have fuelled a bitter succession battle between his wife Grace and former vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, who Mugabe sacked last week.

Mnangagwa, 75, was previously one of Mugabe’s most loyal lieutenants, having worked alongside him for decades.

But he fled to South Africa following his dismissal and published a scathing rebuke of Mugabe’s leadership and Grace’s presidential ambitions.

The generals are strongly opposed to Grace Mugabe‘s rise, while Mnangagwa has maintained close ties to the army and could emerge as the next president.

‘Very delicate time’ 

Morgan Tsvangirai, a former prime minister and long-time opponent of Mugabe, told journalists in Harare that Mugabe must resign “in the interest of the people”.

He added that “a transitional mechanism” would be needed to ensure stability.

Tendai Biti, who served as finance minister during the coalition government after the 2008 elections, called it “a very delicate time for Zimbabwe”.

“A way has to be worked out to maintain stability. That restoration requires a roadmap and to address the grievances that have led to this situation,” he said.

The African Union said it would allow Zimbabwe’s southern neighbours in the SADC to mediate in the crisis.

Smail Chergui, the AU commissioner for peace and security, said Africa was putting its faith in the efforts of the SADC, noting that its envoys had been able to meet Mugabe, after talks in Washington.

“I think as we speak the parliament is still in force, is still working, the government is still working, and there is no sign of violence whatsoever in the country,” Chergui said.

Eldred Masunungure, a lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, said the formation of a “pre-election coalition” could be a viable response to the crisis.

ALSO READ: Museveni is still young and alert to be overthrown like Mugabe, Andrew Mwenda

‘We need change’

Many Zimbabweans hoped the situation would pave the way to a more prosperous future.

“We needed change. Our situation has been pathetic,” said Keresenzia Moyo, 65.

“The economy has been in the doldrums for a very long time. We are happy with what has been done.”

State TV said a graduation ceremony at a university where Mugabe is the chancellor would proceed as planned on Friday morning, although it was unclear if the veteran leader would attend.

Harare’s residents have largely ignored the few soldiers still on the streets and have continued commuting, socialising and working.

The international community has been watching the crisis closely.

In Paris, the head of the African Union, Guinea’s President Alpha Conde, warned that the continent “will never accept the military coup d’etat” in Zimbabwe and called for a return to the “constitutional order”.

“(Problems) need to be resolved politically by the Zanu-PF party and not with an intervention by the army,” added Conde.

Meeting in Botswana, the SADC called for an emergency regional summit to help resolve the crisis, urging Zimbabwe to “settle the political challenges through peaceful means”.

Britain, Zimbabwe’s former colonial ruler, demanded that elections scheduled for 2018 go ahead.

Source: news24

The post Mugabe ‘trying to buy time’ to negotiate his exit first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

In a joint communiqué issued at the end of an emergency summit on the Burundi situation held at State House in Dar es Salaam, their excellencies President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda, President Uhuru Kenyatta of the Republic of Kenya, Hon. Alain Nyamitwe, Minister of External and International Cooperation representing the Republic of Burundi and Hon. Valentine Rugwabiza, Minister for East African Community, representing the Republic of Rwanda, agreed that during the postponement, members led by the Chairperson will consult with stakeholders in Burundi on the way forward.

The summit called on all parties to stop the violence and exercise restraint during this period and for the urgent disarmament of all armed youth groups allied to political parties. The leaders encouraged the government in Burundi to create a conducive environment for the return of refugees to Burundi and directed the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EAC partner states and the Republic of South Africa to urgently communicate these and other decisions to the government in Burundi.

The summit was also attended by South African President Jacob Zuma, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Dlamini Zuma and the United Nations Secretary General’s Special envoy for the Great Lakes Region Saidi Djinnit among other officials. The leaders expressed sympathy with the people of Burundi following the violence that resulted in the death of many people, influx of refugees to neighbouring countries, destruction of property and paralyzing business in some parts of the country.

After the summit, the leaders were hosted to a luncheon by President Jakaya Kikwete. Later, President Yoweri Museveni held a bilateral meeting with the host and Chairman of EAC President Jakaya Kikwete. The President then left for the Kenya Capital, Nairobi to be part of celebrations to mark Madaraka day at the invitation of President Uhuru Kenyatta. He was seen off at the Julius Nyerere International Airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tanzania Hon. Bernard Membe.

The post East African heads of state call for posteponement of Burundi elections first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The post President attends IGAD Summit on South Sudan first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

A high-powered group of special envoys to the Democratic Republic of Congo have assessed the peace process in the conflict-torn Democratic Republic of Congo.

The envoys from the United Nations, African Union, European Union and United States met in Kinshasa with Martin Kobler, the head of the large UN mission in DRC (MONUSCO). Their two-day visit is part of the ongoing international oversight of DRC’s peace process, with a particularly focus on the east of the country, which has suffered more than two decades of strife and human rights abuses. The Envoys met with representatives of the government, civil society and the international community and heard first hand information about the implementation of commitments to the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework and what they can do to support further progress.

The experts’ oversight role arises from a pact signed by 11 African countries in Addis Ababa under UN auspices on February 24, 2013. The signatories on this agreement included Rwanda and Uganda.

Ends

The post UN assesses peace process in Democratic Republic of Congo first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

News statement on the kidnapping of the Nigerian School Girls from the office of the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson’s Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security has strongly condemned the horrific abduction of young girls from the Chibok Government Girls Secondary School in Borno State in Nigeria.

African Union Commission is extremely concerned that about 230 young girls aged between 16- 18 years was taken from their school on the night of 14th April, 2014, and horrified that eight more girls were abducted on Monday, May 5, 2014 in the same province of Borno.

“We send our sympathy to the families of the children, and urge those who are responsible for their abduction to release them unharmed, and return them to their families, where they rightfully belong,” the news statement says in part.

African Union notices that attacks against the liberty of children and targeting schools are prohibited under international law and cannot be justified under any circumstance. Schools are and must remain places of safety and security, where children can learn and grow in peace. Girls and young women must be allowed to go to school without fear of violence and unjust treatment and exercise their rightful role as equal citizens of the world.

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human Rights and on the Rights of Women in Africa states, “every woman shall have the right to be respected as a person and to the free development of her personality.”

Ends

The post Toothless African Union condemns Bako Haram acts first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Westcott became the managing director for Africain the European Union External action Service in February 2011. Before his appointment, Westcott was the British High Commissioner to Ghana and Ambassador to Cote d’lvoire, Niger, Burkina Faso and Togo from 2008 to 2011.

He is not new in East Africa. Westcott was the Deputy British High Commissioner in Tanzania and a researcher at the University of Dares- Salaam.   He is so popular in Africa and he speaks English, Swahili and French among other languages spoken in East Africa.

The post Who is Nick Westcott, the EU diplomat who told Musevni to respect human rights first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Amb. Escure replaces Mr. Jacques Champagne de Labriolle whose tour of duty as France’s Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania ended late last year.

In a letter dated 21 November 2011, France’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Mr. Alain Juppe states that H.E. Mr. Marcel Escure’s mission to the EAC will further strengthen the ties between France and the East African Community.

“France wishes to support the integration process that your Community has started as well as the rapprochement initiated with the Southern African Development Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa,” noted the French Foreign Minister.

The EAC Secretary General Amb. Sezibera hailed the cordial relations that exist between France and the EAC Partner States, and briefed the French envoy on the critical activities that will dominate the integration agenda in the next five years which include consolidation of the EAC Customs Union and establishing a single customs territory; implementation of the provisions of the Common Market Protocol and; conclusion of the Protocol for the Establishment of the East African Monetary Union.

For more information please contact: Owora Richard Othieno, Head of Department; Corporate Communications and Public Affairs; Tel: 255-768-835021; Email: othieno@eachq.org

The post France Appoints new Ambassador to the East Africa Community first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

“We owe you gratitude on what Uganda troops are doing in Somalia. It is important that the Leaders there know the agency of getting their act together and get them to do what needs to be done.” He said.

President Museveni

Mr. Jerry John Rawlings Who is the African union special envoy to Somalia on Friday held a consultative meeting with president of the republic of Uganda Yoweri Museveni at his country home Kisozi Mpigi district, during which the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues including peace security and development and development in Somalia the region and Africa.

Jerry John Rawlings was accompanied by General Arnold Avino a former army commander in Liberia, Ambassador Diara the African union director for AMISON and Mensa Herbert the special adviser to His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings proposed to invite the heads of state in the region and continent to help in the negotiation to end the conflict in Somalia.

Uganda troops make up most of the African union 9000 strong peace keeping force that is helping Somalia transitional government battle insurgent groups especially the Al-shabab.

President Yoweri Museveni said Uganda is committed to ensuring peace and security support Mr. Rawlings in his task force as the negotiator said the commander of Ugandan forces Gen. Aronda Nyakairima will provide with detailed report on the situation in Somalia.

Ultimate Media

The post Ghana's Jerry Rawlings applauds President Yoweri Museveni over Somalia first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

ADDRESS BY H.E JEAN PING, CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION ON THE OCCASION OF THE 17^TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

22 JULY 2010, KAMPALA

VERSION 7 OF 21 JULY 2010

Madam the Chairperson of the Executive Council,

Right Honorable Eriya Kategaya, First Deputy Prime Minister and

Minister for East African Community Affairs of the Republic of Uganda,

Excellency the Executive Secretary of the ECA,

Honourable Ministers,

Distinguished Heads of Delegation,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me, first and foremost, [to add my voice to that of my predecessor] to renew, on behalf of the Commission and on my own behalf, to the Government and to all our Ugandan brothers and sisters seriously afflicted by the two bomb attacks perpetrated in Kampala, a little less than two weeks today, our sincere condolences and our unflinching support. Our special thoughts go to the family of the victims. We take this opportunity to wish the injured a speedy recovery.

Madam Chairperson,

I would like to thank the Representative of the host country for his words of welcome, to which I add my own. I would also like to ask him to kindly convey to the highest Authorities of his country and to the people of Uganda our most sincere thanks for the brotherly hospitality extended to all of us since our arrival so as to make our stay a pleasant one, and for the excellent facilities provided to ensure fruitful deliberations on the occasion of the 17^th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council.

Madam Chairperson,

Since your last January session, many events have taken place in the world and on our continent.

For instance, the world economy is showing signs of recovery although its development remains volatile as evidenced by public debt crisis, global instability, unemployment, the euro crisis, record deficits and fragile balance sheets of banks.

For Africa, notwithstanding the slight decline in growth, generally-speaking, our countries have demonstrated a remarkable capacity for resilience. Growth is back on track and we are one of the regions of the world with a promising future. Today, Africa is called upon to at long last “forge a place for itself”, in the world political order as demanded by Abbé Sieyes for the “Third Estate”.  Indeed the year 2010 proclaimed as Africa Year, may be the turning point of the continent’s take off and we all have a role to play in this.

The Commission, for its part, is aware of the scope of its responsibility in this exercise, the magnitude of which can only strengthen our resolve to forge ahead, more than ever before in our human and institutional capacity building, and in the reforms and improvements to be made to ensure transparent and accountability-driven management of the resources entrusted to us.

Given the opportunities available to the Continent, one of the major objectives to which I attach particular importance and which I plan to place at the heart of our preoccupations at the threshold of the second half of my mandate, with the support of Member States and our partners, would be the launching of the implementation of the major programmes and projects identified for the development of the continent, side by side with the abiding quest for an Africa at peace with itself and the rest of the world and working to assert its place in global governance. Consistent with this endeavour are the common position taken in Copenhagen and continued mobilisation under the aegis of CAHOSCC in the lead up to the important Cancun meeting.

Allow me, at this juncture to thank Prime Minister Meles Zenawi for his unrelenting efforts to enable Africa to speak with one voice on this occasion.

Madam Chairperson,

During the reporting period, the Commission has pursued its efforts towards the implementation of the continental integration agenda and the consolidation of peace and security on the continent, on the basis of the guidelines of the 2009-2012 Strategic Plan and of shared values of good governance.

To this end, emphasis was placed on fast tracking the process for the operationalisation of the Continental Peace and Security Architecture, strengthening initiatives for the settlement of existing conflicts and the consolidation of restored peace, pursuing conflict prevention efforts, combating terrorism, disarmament related issues, reforming the security sector, protecting civilians within the context of peace operations, as well as maritime security and safety.

The Commission has in this context continued its efforts aimed at strengthening the interconnection of the early warning systems of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the Situation Room of the African Union through its VSAT programme.

Furthermore, I am pleased to note, during the period under review, the involvement of Member States in the activities organised by the Commission to mark the Year of Peace and Security in Africa. I had the strong feeling that the belief that a lasting peace is possible on the continent was shared by all and that the willingness to achieve this initiative which called for our collective participation was the motivating factor of each and every one. One of the highlights will be 21 September 2010 proclaimed by a United Nations resolution as the International Day of Peace.

On the ground, however, we cannot but acknowledge with pain the fact that peace, stability and democracy in Africa are still fragile, as evidenced by the recent bomb attacks experienced by our host country. The Commission continues to deploy a lot of efforts in its activities to support peace processes in the various Member States concerned such as The Comoros where an Agreement for the management of the interim period was concluded in Moroni on 16 June 2010, under the auspices of my Special Envoy and the completion of the electoral process leading to the election of the new President from the Island of Mohéli scheduled for mid-January 2011.

In Madagascar, the efforts invested to reach an agreement on a consensual and all-inclusive transition have yet to pay off, despite the combined endeavours of the AU, SADC and our international partners.

In Somalia, the priority of AMISOM as Africa’s emblematic operation backed by the International Community is to support, among other things, reconstruction of the security sector institutions and to backstop the peace and reconciliation efforts of the Federal Transition Government (FTG) of which the Agreement of 15 March last concluded with ASWJ at the African Union Headquarters was an encouraging result. Given all these relevant factors, today it is of the highest importance that bold political and legal measures are taken to significantly enhance the strength, the resources and equipment of AMISOM.

The beginning of the normalisation of relations between Djibouti and Eritrea through the mediation of Qatar is commendable, and it is hoped that it will not flounder but inexorably lead to the settlement of differences between Eritrea and Ethiopia as well as impact positively on the situation in Somalia. [We hope that the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Western Sahara will also be successful.]

As regards the situation in The Sudan, there has been significant progress on the ground, particularly from the security and political perspectives, following the April 2010 general elections in respect of which a High-Level African Union Group played a commendable role and AU observers were sent. Similarly, consultations with the Sudanese parties concerned on issues related to the referendum and a post-referendum period were initiated by the High-Level Panel on Sudan at Mekele, Ethiopia on 21 June 2010. As for Darfur, the efforts deployed were geared towards the establishment of an inclusive political process involving all the actors, including the warring factions, the political parties, the civil society, the displaced persons, the dignitaries and other concerned social groups. An Advisory Body on Sudan co-chaired by the African Union and the United Nations has been put in place to coordinate and strengthen the support of the International Community working for peace in the country.

Madam Chairperson,

Significant initiatives were also undertaken by the Commission under the integration, development and cooperation pillar.

In the area of education which plays a primary role in the realisation of the Vision and Mission Africa has set for itself in terms of development, the Commission has deployed efforts towards the implementation of the Plan of Action for the Second Decade of Education for Africa (2006-2015). Today, higher education and scientific research feature among the main pillars of the continent’s development architecture; I am pleased at the commitment and enthusiasm demonstrated by our Member States and our partners vis à vis the flagship project for the establishment of the Pan-African University which is reaching a decisive stage in its implementation process. The Commission is awaiting a decision of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government for the effective take off of the first institutes of the Pan-African University.

In the area of Science and Technology, the efforts of the Commission supported by Member States and institutions or partner countries have culminated among other things to the organisation in 2009 of the African Union Science and Technology Award, renamed this year as the “African Union Kwame NKRUMAH Science Award” and the signing on 6 July last of the Headquarters’ Agreement of the African Science, Technology and Innovation Observatory with the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and the proposed launch of the Science and Technology Decade (2011-2020).

Madam Chairperson,

It is no secret to anyone that more than half of Africa’s population is young and what that represents as an asset, if one also takes into account the size of this population. Cognizant of these assets, our Heads of State and Government in January 2009 proclaimed 2009-2018 as the Decade for Youth Development and Empowerment which provides among other things for an African Union Youth Volunteer Corps that actively associates the youth to development processes in Member States.

At this juncture, I would like to express here my wholehearted gratitude to the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for having accepted to host the training session of the first contingent of the African Union Youth Volunteer Corps.

Madam Chairperson.

In the Health and Hygiene sectors, the Commission’s efforts were focused on the pursuit of the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA). Thirteen (13) Member States have launched this campaign nationwide and eight (8) others would do so by the end of the year. We hope that during this Summit which is being held under the theme “Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development in Africa”, and at the end of the deliberations which we trust will be productive, the other Member States will come on board.

My report also gives an overview of the activities undertaken as part of the implementation of the instruments for the protection of the rights and welfare of the child and the promotion of youth development, including the conclusions of the Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth held last April at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. With regard to sports, we are proud of the excellent organisation by South Africa of the first ever World Cup in the African Continent. It was a veritable continental festival, as this country we hold so dear demonstrated all its skills and know-how in terms of hospitality and provided all the infrastructure facilities needed for this world event. It is worth highlighting also the mobilisation shown by several countries to celebrate Africa Day on 25 May 2010 on the chosen theme “Building and Maintaining Peace through Sports in Africa”. May I more especially mention Ghana and South Africa which celebrated this Day with great pomp and pageantry. We hope that all the other Member States will join the subsequent celebrations of this historic Day. Mozambique should also be commended for the arrangements it is making to host the 10^th All Africa Games in September 2011.

Madam Chairperson,

In the priority area of infrastructure and energy, the Commission has mobilized considerable resources to conduct the necessary studies for investments, among which I would like to mention just a few examples.

The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) which we launched here was prepared with the collaboration of the African Development Bank and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency. € 7.8 million has already been secured from our development partners to provide the Union with a continental infrastructure development vision by the year 2030.

As regards energy, despite its vast potentials, the 37% energy access rate is the lowest in the world. An evaluation programme currently underway, to the tune of about € 60 billion, would, among other things, make it possible to achieve 15500 MW of new renewable energy installations.

The 2020 Hydroelectricity Initiative aims at the promotion of potential sites such as the Inga in DRC which with a potential of 40 000 MW could provide electricity supply to close to 400 million people.

The exploitation of the geothermal potential in East Africa estimated at 14 000 MW would contribute significantly to energy security. The outcomes of the study on the exploitation of solar energy estimated at more than 100 000 MW will be tabled before you at the next January 2011 Summit.

In the transport sector, the Commission’s efforts are currently focused on the implementation of the major regional infrastructure projects. These include projects for the completion of the missing segments on the major transport corridors including transcontinental highways such as:

• The Dakar-N’djamena-Djibouti corridor, the Djibouti-Libreville corridor, the Beira-Lobito corridor;
• The Kinshasa-Brazzaville bridge and the Gambia bridge project;
• The Cotonou-Niamey-Ouagadougou link feasibility studies.

In the ICT sector, the Pan-African network for Tele-medicine and Tele-education has already been installed in 34 Member countries of the Union to the tune of US$135 million. The harmonisation of ICT policies continues within the context of a € 6 million project. The same goes for the broad band network development project and the regional infrastructure data base interconnection system.

These efforts supplement those initiatives in Member States and the Regional Economic Communities, and it is worth pointing out here that there is need to define the priorities not within national borders as in the past, but rather in a regional context.

Madam Chairperson,

With regard to agriculture and the environment, whereas the agricultural sector witnessed a net growth at continental and regional levels, the fact remains that in 2008, only 9 African countries met the CAADP 6% annual agricultural growth target. During the last 9 months, 18 Member States have signed their CAADP Compacts, including 12 in ECOWAS and 6 in COMESA.

The Commission with the help of specialised agencies of the United Nations system and of AfDB and ECA, has developed a programme aimed at increasing agricultural production and laid the foundations for agro-industries in Africa.

Madam Chairperson,

The Commission also undertook a new action aimed at strengthening risk management and the protection of our investments in agricultural production. To this end, we have convened a RECs high level task force, experts and partner agencies to reflect on how to obtain rapid results. The creation of the African Risk Management Capacity (ARC) with the technical assistance of the World Food Programme (WFP) forms part of this initiative. This is a Pan-African Common Disaster Risk Fund which allows participating Member States to have access to ready cash in the event of severe drought, flooding and cyclone.

The preliminary results show a 50% savings on the diversification of drought-related losses across Africa. This concept was approved by the Conference of African Ministers of Finance meeting in Lilongwe last March.

Madam Chairperson,

With regard to partnerships in general, the Commission has pursued its efforts aimed at strengthening the existing partnerships with the rest of the world on the basis of the relevant decisions of the Assembly. We have passed the hurdles of these past two years and were supported in our efforts by all the Member States, with the effective and interactive cooperation of our partners and regional and international organisations with whom we have concluded strategic partnership agreements. Such agreements enable us to implement the programmes and projects contained in the decisions of the Assembly and the Executive Council as well as in the Strategic Plan, and underpin both the continent’s sustainable development and the Millennium Development Goals.

In this connection, the 1^st High-Level USA-AU bilateral meeting was successfully held in Washington DC, last April with the aim of establishing a multidimensional partnership.

In the same vein, the 2^nd Ministerial Conference on the Follow-up of the Implementation of the TICAD IV Action Plan was held in Arusha, Tanzania early last May.

I am appreciative of the efforts being deployed by Turkey since the last Africa-Turkey Summit to step up the commercial exchange flows with Africa as well as its investments on the continent.

During the period under review preparations have been made with regard to two important meetings scheduled in Libya, in October and November, respectively. These are the 2^nd Afro-Arab Summit, 33 years after its first edition and the 3^rd Africa-Europe Summit.  In this connection, allow me to say a word about this Second Afro-Arab Summit.  As the matter of fact, the low participation of African States in the preparatory meetings was noted.  Consequently, I would like to make an appeal to all Member States to ensure that the Second Summit is a success.  I wish to recall that this Second Summit is taking place 33 years after the first one.

Madam Chairperson,

During the last Session of the Executive Council, significant progress was made concerning the process for the establishment of three financial institutions as provided for under Article 19 of the Constitutive Act of the Union. This progress has been made possible thanks to the cooperation between the Commission and the Member States designated to host these institutions, namely Libya for the African Investment Bank (AIB), Cameroon for the African Monetary Fund (AMF), and Nigeria for the African Central Bank (ACB). We thank the respective Authorities of these countries for the efforts they have exerted in this regard.

Concerning the AIB, the Protocol and the Statutes of the Bank are currently being submitted for signature and ratification by Member States. Africa’s huge financing requirements underscore the urgency of these ratifications, and it is hoped that AIB will see the light of day in a not too distant future.

The texts establishing the AMF are expected to be submitted for consideration and adoption by the Heads of State and Government during the January/February 2011 Summit.

Mention should be made here of the initiative taken by the Republic of Guinea to call for the convening of an African Ministerial Conference on Innovative Financing Mobilisation Strategies. This Conference, supported by the Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development meeting in Lilongwe, will be in preparation for the 4^th United Nations Conference on Financing for Development.

Madam Chairperson,

The international economic environment is still marked by the search for solutions to the deep crisis that shook all the economies, especially those of the major trading partners of Africa. In this context, the political will expressed by the major international business players to conclude the Doha cycle negotiations in 2010 is taking a long time to become a reality.

With the positive growth prospects that are taking shape in Africa, the LDCs are hoping for a rapid implementation of the decisions taken in their favour concerning access to duty and quota-free markets, the simplification of rules of origin applicable to their exports, finalisation of the aspects of the trade related cotton dossier.

Madam Chairperson,

By placing the 2011 Summit under the theme “Shared Values”, our leaders want to underscore Africa’s commitment to consolidate the democratisation and good governance process initiated on the continent. Since the transformation of the OAU to the AU, significant and encouraging progress has been made even though much remains to be done.

Worthy of mention is the slow progress made in the minimum ratification needed for the entry into force of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. To date, thirty-five Member States have signed the Charter and six have finalised the ratification process namely, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Lesotho and Rwanda.

Madam Chairperson,

I would like to conclude by reiterating the determination of the Commission to pursue its action aimed at ensuring an ever greater visibility and presence of Africa and to contribute to the attainment of the Union’s objectives.

In view of the importance of the mission entrusted to the Commission, be it issues of peace and security or those pertaining to economic and social development, it is imperative that it is provided with adequate and necessary human and financial resources. The time has come to gird ourselves for action so that Africa takes its destiny in its own hands.

Needless to point out in this connection that the AU, like its predecessor, the OAU, is financed solely by Member States’ statutory contributions, as well as contributions of development partners, whose limits and constraints, coupled with instability are increasingly obvious. There is no need belabouring the issue but the fact remains that today, the AU is from the budgetary and political perspective stymied in its effort to give concrete expression to the numerous projects envisaged.

I thank you for your kind attention.

The post Address by H.E Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission at Kampala African Union Summit first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.