Events

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 08 December 2014: African perspectives must be considered whenever African issues are discussed at the United Nations Security Council. African Union Commission Chairperson H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma raised this need during a meeting with the Spanish State Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Ignacio Ybaňez. The two met on Monday 8 December 2014, at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Spanish State Minister of Foreign Affairs had come to express appreciation for Africa's support to the election of Spain as a Non-Permanent Member of the UN Security Council.

During the meeting H.E. Mr. Ingacio Ybaňez assured the AUC Chairperson H.E. Dr. Dlamini Zuma that Spain will push and advocate for an African perspectives on African issues during its tenure at the UN Security Council. He said Spain will always remain close to African countries directly, but also through the representations in Addis Ababa and in New York.

Amongst issues, they discussed issues of women’s empowerment, peace and security, particularly the AU’s goal of “Silencing the Guns by 2020.”

Besides meeting with the Chairperson, the visiting Spanish State Minister and his delegation is also meeting with other AUC Departments including Departments of Political Affairs and Peace and Security.

Spain is joining the UN Security Council as from 1 January 2015, for a two-year period 2015-2016. Other four newly elected members are Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand and Venezuela.

JEE/

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Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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The Chairperson of the African Union Commission H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has learnt with profound sadness another tragic loss of an estimated 70 African migrants, mainly from Ethiopia in the Red Sea Coast of Yemen. According to Yemeni authorities, the boat sank on 6 December 2014, after encountering rough waves and violent winds.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma expresses her deepest condolences to the families, relatives and friends of the bereaved. She further expressed grave concern regarding the recurrence of these preventable tragedies, and therefore urges the relevant authorities to investigate these incidents. She also calls on all Member States and other Governments to work together to reduce loss of lives among people making sea voyages across the Red Sea and other major sea frontiers.

The Chairperson is dismayed by the fact that statistically more migrants have died at sea this year than the past three years combined, with the majority of the victims being Africans. This latest incident coming almost 14 months after about 359 migrants lost their lives off the coast of Lampedusa is a poignant reminder of the challenges of irregular migration. Dr. Dlamini Zuma said all must be done to stop this.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 05 December 2014: Newly appointed Ambassadors of Slovenia and Rwanda to Ethiopia and Permanent Representatives to the African Union have, on Friday 5 December 2014, presented their letters of Credence to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Welcoming H.E. Mr. Matjaz Sinkovee of the Republic of Slovenia, the Chairperson said he comes to the African Union at a very interesting phase of the continent’s rapid transformation and engagement in global politics. She invited Slovenia, and its businesses to take advantage of the attractive returns in investment and trade opportunities.

The Slovenian Ambassador welcomed the opportunity to enhance its trade and development cooperation with Africa. He announced the hosting of three important events next year in Slovenia to showcase the cooperation with Africa, during which he invited the AU to be represented at the highest level, in at least one of them.

On his part, the newly appointed Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the AU, H.E. Mitali Kabanda Protais pledged to continue playing a very active role in the Union as his predecessor, to strengthen the collaboration with the AU.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma wished each of the new Permanent Representatives a successful tour of duty during their time with the African Union, and in Ethiopia.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 02 December 2014: Ahead of the first International Contact Group on Lybia, the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has urged the Lybian parties to embark on an all-inclusive political process to overcome the current situation. She spoke with the Libyan Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammed al-Dairi on Tuesday, 2 December 2014, during the latter’s courtesy call to the AUC Chairperson at the the African Union Headquarters.

a The Chairperson of the AU Commission and Minister Mohammed al-Dairi discussed the situation in Libya and ongoing efforts toward reaching durable peace in the country. The Chairperson reiterated the call of the AU Peace and Security Council for all the Libyan stakeholders to embark on an all-inclusive dialogue toward reaching a political solution. She emphasized that there can be no military solution to the prevailing situation in the country.

The meeting of Wedneday 3 December 2014 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will be the first since the International Contact Group was established by the AU Peace and Security Counscil meeting in the margins of the UN General Assembly meeting in September 2014, in New York, United States.

Addis Ababa, 17 November 2014: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, welcomes the significant progress made in Burkina Faso towards the establishment of a civilian-led transition, in conformity with the aspirations of the people of Burkina Faso for change and the consolidation of democracy.

In this regard, the Chairperson of the Commission welcomes the restoration of the Constitution and the signing, yesterday, 16 November 2014 in Ouagadougou, by all Burkinabe stakeholders, of the Transitional Constitutional Charter, in the presence of the AU Special Envoy for Burkina Faso, Mr. Edem Kodjo. She also notes with satisfaction the appointment of a civilian, Michel Kafando, as President of the Transition. She notes that these measures are in line with the communiqué of the 465th meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), held on 3 November 2014. The Chairperson of the Commission expresses her deep appreciation to all the stakeholders and the Burkinabe people for their political maturity and sense of responsibility, which made it possible to take these crucial steps. She encourages them to persevere in their efforts to ensure a civilian-led transition, in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Burkina Faso and the PSC communiqué.

The Chairperson of the Commission also expresses her appreciation to the AU current Chairman, President Mohamed Ould Abel Aziz of Mauritania, as well as to Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Chair of the Contact Group on Burkina Faso of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, current Chairman of ECOWAS, Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, and Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, for their important role in supporting the Burkinabe people and stakeholders. She also welcomes the contribution of the joint AU/ECOWAS/United Nations (UN) missions, comprising the AU Special Envoy, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, and the UN Special Representative for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas.

The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the AU’s commitment, in close cooperation with ECOWAS and the UN, to continue to support the efforts of the Burkinabe stakeholders for the completion of the Transition within the agreed timeframe. She calls on the larger international community to support these efforts and to mobilize the necessary support in favor of Burkina Faso.