Events
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October 20, 2015
Joint Media Advisory
First visit of EU Foreign Affairs Chief, FedericaMogherini to the African Union Commission
WHAT: The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission Federica Mogherini will Addis Ababa and hold discussions with Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), on the Africa–EU Partnership.
The EU high Official is expected to deliver a keynote address during her visit to the AU. Issues of migration, peace and security, women and youth, ways to stimulate growth and create jobs in line with the recently adopted Action Plan on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the Africa Agenda 2063,are expected to be addressed by the AUC Chairperson and the EU Foreign Affairs Chief.
WHEN: Tuesday, 20th October 2015.
TIME: 14:45
WHERE: African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Medium Conference Room)
PARTICIPANTS: AU officials and staff; EU Officials and staff; members of the Diplomatic Corps based in Addis Ababa, and invited guests.
BACKGROUND: The EU-Africa Summit of April 2014 in Brussels confirmed the commitment of both continents to the objectives set out in the 2007 Joint EU Africa Strategy and agreed the implementation of the Joint Strategy should be further improved. The Summit adopted a roadmap to frame EU-Africa relations covering five key priorities and areas for joint action:
• Peace and security
• Democracy, good governance and human rights
• Human development
• Sustainable and inclusive development and growth and continental integration
• Global and emerging issuesJournalists are invited to cover the visit of the EU Foreign Affairs Chief to the African Union on 20 October 2015.
_____________________________________________________________Media contacts:
Mrs Tankou Azaa Esther Yambou, Head of Information Division, Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission, Addis Ababa Ethiopia Tel: +251(0) 911361185, E-mail: YambouE@african-union.org
Mr Biruk Feleke, Press & Information Officer, Delegation of the European Union to the African Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (biruk.feleke@eeas.europa.eu).
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October 19, 2015
Press Release
AU Commission Chairperson to host EU Foreign Affairs Chief on Africa-EU Partnership
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 19 October 2015: African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will host European Union (EU) Commission High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President, Ms. Federica Mogherini at the African Union Head Quarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 20 October 2015.
Ahead of the visit, the AU Commission Chairperson said she is looking forward to hosting Ms. Mogherini and the EU here in Africa’s capital, Addis Ababa. “This meeting will provide an opportunity for us to discuss the AU-EU relations, particularly around critical issues including migration, peace and security, development, democracy and human rights, as well as Africa’s Agenda 2063 and its alignment with the SDG’s”.
The visit, which is the first ever by Ms. Federica Mogherini to the African Union, is informed by the EU-Africa Summit which took place in Brussels in 2014 and in which Africa and the EU affirmed their commitments to the 2007 Joint EU Africa strategy.
The EU High Official, Ms. Mogherini, will deliver a keynote speech at the Medium Conference Room in the AUC Conference Centre, where participants will include members of the Diplomatic Corps based in Addis Ababa, AU and EU officials and other invited guests. She will also focus on issues of migration, youth and women and ways of boosting economic growth and stimulating job creation.
The AUC Chairperson and the EU High Representative and Vice President will briefly address journalists, who are also invited to cover the event.
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October 18, 2015
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 18 October 2015: African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, was conferred the title of South African of the Year 2015 at the SATY Awards hosted by Africa News Network 7 (ANN7), on Saturday 17 October 2015, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Announcing the award, the AU Commission Chairperson was hailed for her phenomenal contribution to pushing the African Agenda on the international stage.
Accepting the award during the ceremony with many other influential South African nominees and winners in attendance, Dr. Dlamini Zuma said, “Thank you very much. I am very humbled, and at the same time honoured.” She congratulated the nominees and winners in all the different categories, while enjoining the hundreds of thousands of other South Africans with sterling performances, “to be that star that twinkles, and collectively, we give the light and the beauty.”
Voted from among the seven nominees in her category of the Award, the AU Commission Chairperson expressed her gratitude for the nomination and vote, and to all South Africans and to the organisers, ANN7. “By the nomination and vote, you recognise our collective efforts to promote unity and solidarity within our beautiful country and the continent.” Dr. Dlamini Zuma said.
The theme of this year’s SATY Award show is ‘Unity in Diversity’, ideas which Dr. Dlamini Zuma has striven greatly to foster, both within South Africa and across the African continent, in her role as Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
In her speech at the Pan-Africa cultural congress on Africa Day, 25 May 2015, Dr. Dlamini Zuma had said, “The idea of unity in diversity is so critical to the tasks and mission that we set for ourselves in Agenda 2063. Africa is a diverse continent, in religion, culture, language, heritage and the arts. This diversity has co-existed and combined into a melting pot over the centuries. It forms the bedrock of our common destiny, expressed through Pan Africanism. It is a unity in diversity that we must nurture. We must manage this diversity in an inclusive manner, so that no one feels left out”.
The South African of the Year Award comes with a cash prize of ZAR 250,000 (an equivalence of about USD 19,000). The mission of the Awards, according the organisers, ANN7, is to “extol the extraordinary aspects” of South Africa and celebrate its “rich heritage and diversity”. This year’s award ceremony doubles as a celebration of the news network’s second anniversary celebrations.
Thousands of guests attended the awards ceremony from the entertainment industry, the business community and government. It was graced by the presence of the President of South Africa, H.E. Jacob Zuma.
Dr. Dlamini Zuma is also one of five nominees for the Forbes Africa Person of the Year 2015. The four others are: Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari; Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; the new Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank, Arunma Oteh; and Entrepreneur and Philanthropist of MeTL Group, Mohammed Dewji.
This year alone, Dr. Dlamini Zuma has been recipient of at least five different awards. These include: CAF Platinum Order Award; the 2015 Gülen Peace Award; the 2015 eThekwini Living Legends Award; African Foremost Heroines Living Legends; and the African Achievers Awards (Excellence in Leadership Award in the female category).
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October 17, 2015
Press Release Nº286/2015
‘Forbes Africa Person of the Year’ and ANN7 ‘South African of the Year’ are among additional awards H.E. Dr. Dlamini Zuma is nominee for in 2015
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 16 October 2015: Inspirational as an advocate for development and sustainable growth on the African continent, working diligently to promote the empowerment of women and youth in Africa and striving for African integration, are among the remarkable efforts that have earned recent nominations and awards for Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, as ‘Forbes Africa Person of the Year 2015’ and ANN7 ‘South African of the Year’.
It is rather awe-inspiring that the leadership of the continental organisation (OAU/AU) is being acknowledged for such notable actions, both in her country of origin and on the continent, but Dr. Dlamini Zuma maintains an air of modesty through it all. “I am deeply honoured that the prestigious magazine, Forbes Africa, has chosen me as an hopeful for the Africa Person of the Year 2015”, Dr. Dlamini Zuma said after learning of this latest nomination.
“It is especially humbling to be included on a list with other Africans who are contributing tremendously to much needed progress, especially in terms of social, political and economic development on the continent”, she further added. In response to her ANN7 nomination, she said: “[I]thank you, South Africa, for your encouragement and relentless support. We owe you all that has been achieved and will continue to be achieved.”
Dr. Dlamini Zuma leverages her position as the Chairperson of the AU Commission to elevate the African voice, raising the need for Africa to write its own narrative, to tell its story. Her interventions have always been punctuated by bold statements about her vision for women's empowerment, youth engagement, Africa’s development, the defense of democracy, the realization of peace and security on the continent and the sustained relationship between Africa and its overseas partners.“Africans have a common vision to transform our continent. We all have a stake in Africa’s future, a future which is outlined in our continent’s long-term vision – Agenda 2063. The stimulus for my daily tasks is to contribute towards building the Africa we all want”, the AU Chairperson stated, with conviction in her voice.
Since it was launched in 2011, Forbes Africa Person of the Year Award has recognized the efforts of individuals of the highest calibre across the continent. The public is invited to voice its opinion and vote for both awards. The Forbes African of the Year Award will be presented in November 2015, in Nairobi, Kenya.
The first ANN7 South African of the Year (SATY) award was held in 2014. In that year it was won by Advocate Thuli Madonsela, a renowned lawyer and Public Prosecutor of South Africa.
In this year alone, Dr. Dlamini Zuma has been the recipient of a number of other awards, including the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Platinum Order Award (second person to receive such an award in the history of CAF); the 2015 Gülen Peace Award; the 2015 eThekwini Living Legends Award; African Foremost Heroines Living Legends; the African Achievers Awards (Excellence in Leadership Award in the female category);Directorate of Information and Communication
Directorate of Information and Communication
Information and Communication
African Union CommissionTel: +251-11-5517700
Email: DIC@africa-union.org
Web: www.au.int -
October 15, 2015AUC Chairperson H.E Dr Dlamini Zuma, keynote speaker at the 2nd Stan Nkosi memorial lecture at the Grace Bible Church... -
October 15, 2015AUC Chairperson Dr Dlamini Zuma and the young South African entrepreneur Dj Sbu at the Stan Nkosi memorial lecture at... -
October 15, 2015A young family member from the Nkosi family, Bokamoso, making remarks before presenting flowers to the AUC Chairperson... -
October 15, 2015Dr Dlamini Zuma lifting Bokamoso, a little boy who presented flowers to Her Excellency for attending the memorial of... -
October 15, 2015
Press Release Nº283/2015
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 15 October 2015: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has expressed her condolences to the government and people of Benin following the demise of Benin’s former President Mathieu Kérékou at the age of 82 The death was announced on Wednesday 14 October2015..
In her message, the AU Commission Chairperson said she was saddened to learn of “the great loss of one of Africa’s elderly statesmen” and expressed her heartfelt condolences to President Yayi Boni and to the people of Benin, on behalf of the AU Commission and the African continent.
President Kérékou ruled Benin for 30 years, after a 20-year one-party state reign and two democratically-elected terms in office. He stepped down from power in 2006, aged 72, after reaching the constitutional age limit to serve as President.
He also gained respect as a mediator in a number of conflicts on the continent, notably in the peace process in Cote d’Ivoire, and as head of the Conseil de l'Entente, a body aimed at building closer links between the West African francophone countries of Benin, Togo, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
Benin has declared seven days of national mourning following the death of its former leader.
Directorate of Information and Communication
Directorate of Information and Communication | Information and Communication | African Union Commission
Tel: +251-11-5517700 | Fax: | E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org | Web:www.au.intAddis Ababa | Ethiopia
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October 14, 2015H.E Dr Dlamini Zuma interacting with the youth delegates at the Opening Ceremony ofthe Enactus World Cup in South... -
October 14, 2015H.E Dr Dlamini Zuma attending the Enactus World Cup in Johannesburg,South Africa 14-10-2015 -
October 14, 2015The Opening ceremony of the Enactus World Cup at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa 14-10-2015