Events

Technical Working Group on the Facilitation of the Africa-Arab Joint Action Plan (JAP) on Agricultural Development and Food Security Meet in Cairo

League of Arab States Headquarters, 17th and 18th May, 2015, Cairo, Egypt - The Meeting of the Technical Working Group on the Facilitation Unit of the Africa-Arab Joint Action Plan (JAP) on Agricultural Development and Food Security was held on 17th and 18th May, 2015 at the premises of the League of Arab States, in accordance to the decision taken by the Steering Committee meeting held in Kampala, Uganda dated 17/4/2015 on Agricultural Development and Food Security.

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Zied Alsban the new Director of the Africa-Arab Co-operation Department at the League of Arab States and Mr. Nadir Fath Elalim, on behalf of H.E Ambassador Abdelhamid BouZaher, the Head of the Permanent Delegation of the African Union Commission to the League of Arab States. In his opening remarks, Mr. Zied Alsban welcomed all participants to the meeting and reaffirmed the League of Arab States’ commitment and readiness to further enhance its relationship with its partners especially with its African partners. He emphasized the significance of the seven mechanism adopted by the Second Africa-Arab Summit held in Sirte, Libya in 2010.

Mr. Nadir in his remarks welcomed all participants and congratulated the new director for his appointment and wished him success in his job. He also emphasized on the importance of the implementation of Decision ( 3) concerning Agricultural Development and Food Security of the third Africa –Arab Summit Held in Kuwait November 2013.

Dr. Alhaj Attia Habib, in his remarks on behalf of Dr.Tariq El-Zadjali, the Director General of the Arab Organization for Agriculture Development (AOAD) stressed on the proposal made by AOAD for a new mechanism for the facilitation unit and called for support for this new mechanism.

Dr. Hassan Elhassan on behalf of Dr. Khelef the Director-General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) welcomed participants from both sides and highlighted the role of the two organizations(AU and LAS) in formulating polices and strategies in the agricultural sector.

The meeting discussed the existing mechanism of the Facilitation Unit and noted that it is fraught with problems and challenges. Consequently, the meeting adopted a new mechanism for the operationalization of the Facilitation Unit. Under this new mechanism, a three-tier system would be used, namely the coordination team, technical advisory committee and the steering committee. The meeting also examined information on the Implementation of the Agriculture Investment Mapping Process (work plan to December 2015).

Finally the meeting arrived at a number of decisions that would permit the actual implementation of (JAP) which will be adopted by the Third Africa-Arab Ministerial meeting of agricultural development and food security plan to be held in Kampala, Uganda 19-23 October, 2015. EAH/

For further information contact
African Union Permanent Delegation to the League of Arab States
AU-Cairo@africa-uion.org
EglalA@africa-union.org- 00201143333288
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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Addis Abeba, 13 May 2015: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, continues to follow closely the developments in Burundi, which have the potential to further destabilize the country and the region, and to complicate the search for a solution to the current crisis. It is in this regard that she participated in the extraordinary summit of the East African Community (EAC) which took place today in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The Chairperson recalls the AU's principle rejecting unconstitutional changes of Government and its commitment to the rule of law and democracy, as enshrined in the Constitutive Act and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. In this respect, the Chairperson condemns in the strongest terms today's coup attempt in Bujumbura, calls for the return to constitutional order and urges all stakeholders to exercise utmost restraint and refrain from any act of violence likely to lead to further loss of lives, population displacement and destruction of property.

The Chairperson of the Commission expresses the AU's full support to the efforts of the leaders of the EAC, in particular, the steps agreed upon at the Dar es Salaam Summit, including (1) the call to Burundian authorities to postpone the elections for a period not beyond the mandate of the current government; (2) regional efforts aimed to restore peace and stability so as to ensure the return of refugees and the holding of elections in a peaceful, free, fair, transparent and inclusive manner; and (3) the cessation of violence by all parties.

The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the AU's appeal to all the Burundian stakeholders, within the framework of the country’s constitution, laws and in the spirit of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement, to accept the recommendations of the EAC summit, end all acts of violence and intimidation, respect fundamental human rights and freedoms, and engage in a genuine dialogue which will contribute to peace and stability in Burundi and create conditions conducive to the holding of free, fair, transparent and inclusive elections.

The Chairperson of the Commission pledges the AU's commitment to continue to work with the EAC leaders, as well as with other international stakeholders, to contribute to the search for a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis.

Addis Ababa, 12 May 2015: The situation in South Sudan remains extremely fragile and volatile. In the last three weeks, sustained fighting between the Government of South Sudan and the SPLM (in opposition) has been taking place in the greater Upper Nile region. According to the South Sudan Humanitarian Coordinator, since the beginning of May 2015 alone, military activities south of Bentiu, in Unity State, have forced up to 100,000 people to flee their homes. This is in addition to over the 1.5 million people who have already been uprooted. More than 2.5 million others are at risk of hunger and disease as a result of the conflict, and massive violations of human rights and destruction of property continue to take place.

This tragedy is a dark blot on the conscience of the international community in general and Africa in particular. Most alarming in this ongoing humanitarian tragedy is the inability and unwillingness of the South Sudanese parties to agree on a political framework to end the fighting and the suffering of their own people.

Over three years ago, the African Union welcomed the new nation of South Sudan into its ranks, with high expectations that this country would become a beacon of peace, prosperity and hope. We are profoundly dismayed at the turn of events, which has led to the loss of countless human lives and untold suffering.

Since the inception of the crisis, IGAD, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Haile Mariam Desalegn of Ethiopia, has made sustained efforts to facilitate the early resolution of this conflict. I renew the AU’s appreciation to the leaders of the region for their commitment.

Against this background, marked by a catastrophic humanitarian situation and deadlocked political talks, the imperative of renewed efforts, cannot be overemphasized. At the African Union, we intend to expedite the operationalization of the ad hoc Committee of Heads of State and Government established by the Peace and Security Council last December, to enhance Africa’s support and input to the peace process. It is equally important to work towards the effective implementation of sanctions against all those undermining the quest for peace, iolating international humanitarian law and obstructing the efforts of peacekeepers on the ground, in line with the UN Security Council resolution of 3 March 2015.

While the region and the continent as a whole should spare no efforts to end the tragedy unfolding in South Sudan, the South Sudanese parties bear primary responsibility in this respect. It is high time that they live-up to their commitments. They have to end the unnecessary suffering they are inflicting on their own people. They have to understand that there is no military solution to the current conflict.

The African Union renews its commitment to continue to work with IGAD leadership with a view to finding a peaceful and lasting way out of the present conflict in South Sudan.

The AU reiterates its appeal for dialogue and restraint in order to find a consensual solution to the crisis

Addis Ababa, 9 May 2015: As part of the efforts by the African Union (AU) to help find a peaceful solution to the current crisis in Burundi and as a follow-up to the relevant decisions of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), the Chairperson of the Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has dispatched a high-level delegation to Bujumbura, as of today. This mission will enhance the AU’s support to the regional efforts, through the East African Community (EAC), within the framework of the African Peace and Security Architecture.

Led by Mr. Edem Kodjo, former Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), former Togolese Prime Minister and member of the AU Panel of the Wise, and including Professor Ibrahima Fall, former Minister of Affairs Foreign of Senegal and former United Nations (UN) Assistant Secretary-General, the delegation will meet with the relevant Burundian authorities, as well as with other stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organizations and religious leaders. It will also meet with the representatives of the international community in Bujumbura, and will work closely with the UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, Said Djinnit, within the spirit of the AU-UN partnership in the area of peace and security.

The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the AU’s urgent appeal to all concerned stakeholders to exercise restraint and to embark upon a genuine and constructive dialogue, in order to overcome the serious challenges at hand, in order to preserve the important achievements made since the signing of the Arusha Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Burundi, strengthen democracy and the rule of law and create conditions conducive to the holding of transparent, free, fair and inclusive elections, in line with the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. She reiterates the imperative to reject all forms of violence and to ensure the scrupulous respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Addis Ababa, 29 April 2015: The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, continues to follow closely the evolution of the situation in Burundi. She expresses concern at the serious threat that the developments of the past few days pose to the long-term stability of Burundi and the hard-won gains made over the past years towards peace, security and stability, as well as to regional stability. She deplores the loss of life, conveys the AU’s condolences to the bereaved families and wishes speedy recovery to all those who were injured during these most unfortunate incidents. She also expresses her deep concern over the increasing number of refugees arriving in Rwanda, due to the prevailing situation on the ground.

The Chairperson of the Commission underscores the need for dialogue among the Burundian stakeholders, in order to resolve their differences peacefully and create conditions conducive for the holding of peaceful, inclusive, free, fair and transparent elections.

The Chairperson of the Commission reiterates the AU’s urgent appeal for all concerned to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any action likely to further complicate the current situation and efforts towards its early resolution. She echoes the call by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) for the urgent disarmament of all militias and illegal armed groups, and its strong condemnation of acts of violence. She stresses the need to ensure the respect of fundamental freedoms, in line with Member States commitments under the AU’s instruments on democracy and human rights.

The Chairperson of the Commission underlines, once again, that Burundi is at a critical juncture. All stakeholders must rise to the challenges at hand, to enable the country to peacefully overcome the current problems and deepen democracy and the rule of law.