Excellencies;

Ladies and gentlemen;

Looking at Africa’s political and security landscape, we have made significant strides in addressing the peace and security challenges on the continent. The marked improvement in the situation in Somalia, the consolidation of peace in a number of countries that emerged from conflict and the promising process leading to peaceful resolution of the crisis in the Central African Republic are cases in point, which deserve acknowledgement. We also seem to be making some progress in the resolution of the institutional crises in Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, while some North African countries that experienced tumultuous popular uprisings in 2011 are gradually stabilizing.

As we meet here today, and while we acknowledge these successes, we ought to reflect on the outstanding of peace and security challenges still facing the continent and devise appropriate strategies to overcome them, including addressing its root causes.

In Central Africa, the renewed insecurity situation since mid-2012 in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo should preoccupy our attention, while the Lord’s Resistance Army continues to pose a threat to security and stability in the affected countries.

Now, let me turn my focus on two specific situations on the agenda for this meeting, namely the situation between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan, and the situation in Mali.

The situation in Sudan and South Sudan poses a particular set of challenges to Africa – how to celebrate diversity while pursuing the goal of a united Africa, how to promote good neighbourliness and mutual viability between two states whose people are closely linked by geography and an often painful history, how to manage natural resources to the benefit of ordinary Africans, and how to build state capacity, institutions and infrastructure in situations where very little exists.

When South Sudan attained independence on 9 July 2011, there were a number of issues outstanding in defining its post-secession relations with Sudan, in particular security arrangements and the demarcation of their common border, the question of oil and economic arrangements, the final status of Abyei, and nationality and the status of citizens of one country resident in the other. The situation was further complicated by the outbreak of armed conflict in the Two Areas of South Kordofan and Blue Nile of Sudan around the time of South Sudan’s independence, between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM-North. The AU High Level Implementation Panel, with the support of Ethiopia as Chair of IGAD, as well as invaluable support from its Partners, has been working with the two governments to finalize agreement on outstanding issues in their post-secession relations.

In April 2012, long-simmering tensions along their undemarcated border led to the outbreak of fighting, and threatened to escalate into all-out war between the two states. It was in this context that this Council met on 24 April 2012, and adopted a Roadmap toward the reduction of tension and the resumption of negotiations between the two Parties to end the conflict and finalize all outstanding post-secession issues. In a very welcome move underscoring improved relations between the AU PSC and UNSC, the UN Security Council endorsed the Roadmap in its entirety. This was an example of total unity of purpose in the international community.

The High Level Implementation Panel is continuing to engage with the two states toward the full implementation of all elements in the AU Roadmap. On 27 September 2012, it succeeded in brokering a series of agreements between the two states on most outstanding matters. However, it is of great concern that the implementation of the signed Agreements is facing difficulties. It is my hope that this Council will call on the two states to urgently and unconditionally implement all aspects of the agreements which were mutually acceptable comprimises on both sides. President el Bashir and President Kiir have been courageous in reaching these agreements, and it is vital that we encourage them to remain steadfast in their search for peace, security and stability, in the interests of their citizens.

I would like to once again reiterate my profound gratitude, and the gratitude of the entire continent, to the tireless efforts of Presidents Thabo Mbeki, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Pierre Buyoya, as well as their staff, for their work in the last year. I would also like to thank Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn of Ethiopia for his vital support to the AUHIP’s efforts. I must also thank the AU’s partners, in particular the United Nations, for their unwavering support for the efforts of the AUHIP.

Excellencies

On the situation in Mali, I’m sure you are aware of the grave developments in the security situation in the country since early this month. On 9 January 2013, armed terrorist and criminal groups in northern Mali launched attacks against Malian government positions. This was a stark reminder of the dangers faced by the Malian state and the region as a whole in the continued activities of armed, terrorist and criminal groups in this region.

I issued a press release strongly condemning this renewed violence by armed groups and called on AU Member States, in line with the relevant decisions of the PSC and of the UN Security Council resolutions, to extend the necessary logistical, financial and capacity-building support to the Malian Defence and Security Forces. I wish to reiterate this call.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me at this point to express my gratitude and that of the Commission to ECOWAS for its unrelenting efforts in facilitating dialogue with armed groups with a view of resolving the Malian crisis peacefully. The AU has vigorously supported these efforts. I also thank ECOWAS Member States and other African countries that have or are making efforts for the deployment of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), which has been necessitated by the grave developments in northern Mali. The AFISMA operation was approved by the AU PSC on 13 November 2012 and subsequently mandated resolution 2085 (2012) of the UN Security Council. It is important to complement the ongoing efforts on the ground by a political process aimed at generating the broadest possible consensus among the Malian stakeholders on the key challenges facing their country.

Of course we are very grateful to France and the international community, that have stood with Mali at this trying moment. This timely intervention in Mali helped arrest the southward advance of armed groups and is still weakening their capabilities. The United Nations and the European Union merit also thanks for their efforts, both on-going and what we expect of them in the immediate, medium and long-term future. The same appreciation goes to all our other bilateral and multilateral partners.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Alongside the grave developments on the security front, some positive developments have been recorded in the resolution of the institutional crisis in Bamako. These developments are worth encouraging. Indeed, the appointment, by interim President Diouncounda Traoré, of a new Prime Minister, in the person of Mr. Diango Cissoko, and the formation of an inclusive government of national unity, on 15 December 2012, appears to have brought much needed coherence in the work of the transitional government. But enormous challenges still remain, including a clear and credible roadmap for the completion of the transitional process.

You may recall the various appeals by the PSC and ECOWAS, and UN Security Council resolutions calling on Member States and various organisations to contribute actively towards the mobilization of adequate support for the Malian Defense and Security Forces and AFISMA. Both need significant and urgent financial, logistical and technical support. In resolution 2085 (2012), adopted on 20 December 2012, the UN Security Council requested the Secretary-General to establish a Trust Fund through which Member States can provide support to AFISMA, and to the Malian Defense and Security Forces.

Based on the strong belief that we, the African Union and African peoples, need to be at the forefront of efforts to assist Member States in need of our help, the AU Commission is holding a pledging conference on 29 January to solicit contributions and mobilise financial, logistical and capacity building support for both the Malian Defense and Security Forces and AFISMA. We have extended invitations to all Member States as well as to a number of our international partners. We hope that Member States, as well as the international partners will contribute generously for this critical mission.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

These are some of the challenges that the continent faces and which require our determined and collective efforts in order to overcome them. It is imperative for the success of our efforts in all other fields, be it economic development or integration, health care, education or the promotion of science and technology. This is equally imperative for us to reach our lofty goal of freeing all the billon of Africans from fear and from want.