Events

Communiqué de presse N.61/2014

Les femmes de la RDC demande à l’UA d’effectuer un plaidoyer accru en leur faveur

Kinshasa, le 4 avril 2014 – L’appui aux femmes dans la région des Grands lacs et dans le Sahel est une des priorités de la Présidente de la Commission de l’Union africaine (UA), le Dr NkosazanaDlaminiZuma. D’aucuns affirment que la pauvreté a souvent un visage féminin. Consciente de cette réalité, le Dr Zuma a développé avec l’aide du Programme des Nations unies pour le développement (PNUD), un programme de renforcement des capacités destinés à promouvoirl’engagement des femmes dans la sphère politique, le monde des affaires et le secteur agricole. L’objectif de cette initiative pour l’autonomisation des femmes est de soutenir les expériences réussies et de mettre à la disposition des femmes les outils qui leur permettront d’améliorer leur participation dans la vie publique et dans l’économie.

Pour la région des Grands lacs, la République démocratique du Congo (RDC) a accueilli du 31 mars au 5 avril 2014 une délégation de la Commission de l’UA venue informer de cette initiative les autorités congolaises,les femmes, ainsi que les partenaires au développement. Cette visite a permis de recueillir les besoins des femmes dans leurs différents domaines d’activité. Elle a aussi favorisé une meilleure compréhension des contraintes des femmes en vue d’un appui plus ciblé. «Les femmes de la RDC ont compris depuis longtemps qu’elles ne peuvent pas prétendre à un financement sans un projet et une formation» a indiqué Mme Eliane Munkeni la Présidente de la Commission nationale «Femmes Entrepreneurs » de la Fédération des entreprises du Congo.

Après plusieurs rencontres avec les organisations professionnels, le Ministère du genre, de la famille et de l’enfant ainsi que les femmes parlementaires, il est apparu que les principaux défis auxquels les femmes font face relèvent de l’accès à l’information et à la formation ainsi qu’au financement. A cet égard, il a été demandé à la Commission de l’UA d’appuyer les femmes non seulement dans les domaines susmentionnés mais aussi d’effectuer un plaidoyer accru en faveur de la prise en compte des besoins spécifiques des femmes dans la politique pour influencer la rédaction et l’application des lois qui leur sont favorables. La Commission de l’UA a aussi été interpellé pour accroitre le plaidoyer en faveur de l’accès des femmes au financement à des conditions favorables. En effet, une plus grande autonomie des femmes permettra d’éradiquer durablement la pauvreté.

Après cette première étape consultative, la Commission de l’UA soumettra à ses interlocuteurs en RDC un programme de formation. Cette expérience permettra ensuite de mettre en œuvre l’initiative de promotion des femmes dans les autres pays des Grands lacs et dans la région du Sahel.

Cette initiative fait suite la visite effectuée par le Dr Zuma en RDCen octobre 2013 du. A cette occasion, elle avait fait la promesse d’appuyer les femmes dans leur émancipation politique et économique.

Contact :
Mme Yaye Nabo SENE
Chargée de communication
E-mail: seney@africa-union.org ou epsilone10@gmail.com

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 24 March, 2014: Ahead of the Africa-European Union Summit scheduled for 2-3 April, 2014, in Brussels, Belgium, a delegation of German authorities visiting the African Union has been urged to support Africa’s integration agenda, in a true spirit of partnership. The African Union Commission Chairperson, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, accompanied by the Deputy Chairperson and Commissioners urged for the German support, as a key member of the European Union, when they met with the visiting delegation, led by the Federal Foreign Affairs Minister, H.E. Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the African Union headquarters on 24 March 2014.

Appreciating Germany’s support toward the continent’s efforts to maintain peace and security, the AU Commission Chairperson said, “we must all move beyond conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peacemaking, to work for Africa’s development and its integration agenda, which will target the drivers of conflict.”

Members of the AU Commission called for more mutually beneficial partnerships that would see more African youths and women trained, grow massive industries that would create employment for millions of African youths, and preventing them from being lured to using dangerous means to seek better opportunities.

Dr. Dlamini Zuma enjoined the German government to support Africa in realizing the Heads of States and Governments’ decision to silence the guns by 2020, as decided in their solemn declaration during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the OAU-AU in May 2013.

Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier praised the AU for taking more responsibilities, particularly in forging ahead with the resolution of regional conflicts. The German delegation also expressed the interest to see more African contribution to funding the AU’s activities.

In this light, the AU Commission noted initiatives underway such as the Africa Solidarity Initiative and the fundraising conference for the Africa-led International Support Mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA) which saw far more contributions from African countries than the partners. It was noted that the holding of the Conference of Africa’s Ministers of Economy and Finance at the end of March is within the context of generating African finance to support African solution to Africa’s problems.

The German Foreign Minister spoke briefly about ongoing efforts to reach consensus on cooperation in the crisis in Ukraine, in order to find a way out through diplomatic means.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 14 March 2014

Condolence message on the death of former President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, received with great sadness news of the death of former President of Sierra Leone Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. The death was reported on Thursday, 13 March 2014, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

“President Kabbah was very active in AU and ECOWAS meetings, always bustling with very good ideas and undertaking important continental responsibilities. He will be missed,” the African Union Commission Chairperson said on hearing the news.

Former President Kabbah will be remembered for his determination and commitment in negotiating an end to the decade-long bloody civil war in Sierra Leone. He was steadfast in his leadership during the post-war transition period, which he served for 10 years, in a two term Presidency.

Before returning to national politics in Sierra Leone, President Kabbah had worked for the United Nations Development Programme for 22 years, serving in the United States and in many African countries.

On behalf of the African Union and the Commission, the Chairperson expresses her deep condolences to the bereaved family, and the people of Sierra Leone.

Jacob Enoh Eben
Ag. Spokesperson of the Chairperson

South Sudan Commission of Inquiry established and members appointed

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 7 March, 2014: A Commission of Inquiry has been appointed to investigate human rights violations and other abuses committed during the armed conflict that broke out in South Sudan in mid-December 2013. The five-member Commission of Inquiry will be headed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Announcing the establishment of the Commission and its members during a press briefing at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, said the Commission was established in implementation of a decision of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) made by Heads of State and Government.

The mandate of the Commission as decided by the PSC, is to “investigate the human rights violations and other abuses committed during the armed conflict in South Sudan, and make recommendations on the best way and means to ensure accountability, reconciliation and healing among all South Sudanese communities.”

Dr. Dlamini Zuma said the Commission was established after deep consultations with the different parties involved in the conflict as well as with the armed opposition groups. The consultations took place in Addis Ababa and during her visit to Juba.

The five members of the African Union Commission of Inquiry in South Sudan are:
• H.E. Olusegun Mathew Aremu Obasanjo - Chairperson of the Commission – Former President of Nigeria, and former Chairperson of the African Union. President Obansanjo has headed several AU Election Observation missions and initiatives. He headed the joint African Union and ECOWAS missions to Senegal during presidential polls in March 2012, paving the way for a smooth transition. He is UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy to the Great Lakes and remains an integral actor in the DRC mediation efforts.

• Lady Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo - Member. President and Justice of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights based in Arusha, Tanzania. She is a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana and has over 39 years of experience working with high-profile national and continental organisations.

• Professor Mahmood Mamdani - Member. He is the Executive Director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Prof. Mamdani was Chair of the National Commission of Inquiry into Local Government in Uganda in 1987-88. He specializes in comparative studies of colonialism since 1452, and the question of civil war and mass violence.

• Ms. Bineta Diop - Member: Recently appointed AU Chairperson’s Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security. She has over 35 years of experience working in human rights, peace-building and development issues in Africa and internationally. Ms. Bineta founded the Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS), a leading global organization with an objective to strengthen women’s leadership and engender peace processes in Africa.

• Professor Pacifique Manirakiza – Member. He is currently a Commissioner at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights based in Banjul, The Gambia. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa School Of Law in the French Section of the Common law Program. Prof. Manirakiza specializes in International Criminal law and more specifically on the fight against international crimes before national and international tribunals.

The Technical and Administrative Support Team will be based at the AUC Headquarters in Addis Ababa. The Secretariat will establish necessary contacts with the AU Liaison Office in Juba, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) based in Juba, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), as well as other relevant stakeholders, to enable members of the Commission to amply carry out their mandate.

The Terms of Reference of the Commission shall include:
- Establish the immediate and remote causes of the conflict;
- Investigate human rights violations and other abuses during the conflict by all parties from 15 December 2013;
- Establish facts and circumstances that may have led to and that amount to such violations and of any crimes that may have been perpetrated;
- Compile information based on these investigations and in so doing assist in identifying perpetrators of such violations and abuses with a view to ensuring accountability for those responsible;
- Compile information on institutions and process or lack thereof that may have aided or aggravated the conflict resulting in violations of human rights and other abuses;
- The Commission shall make recommendations based on the investigation on the following:
o appropriate mechanisms to prevent a recurrence of the conflict;
o mechanisms to promote national healing and cohesiveness, particularly focusing on the need for all South Sudanese communities to live together in peace;
o modalities for nation building, specifically focused on building of democratic institutions and post-conflict reconstruction;
o accountability mechanisms for gross violations of human rights and other egregious abuses to ensure that those responsible for such violations are held to account.

The AU Commission Chairperson said the AU will continue to support the IGAD (Inter Governmental Authority on Development) mediation efforts to end the ongoing hostilities and find sustainable solutions using political and diplomatic means.

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Press Release Nº031/2014

AUC Chairperson to attend Nigeria’s centenary celebrations and High Level Meeting on Post-2015 Agenda in Chad

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 26 February, 2014: On the invitation of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will attend Nigeria’s centenary celebrations. Dr. Dlamini Zuma will deliver a goodwill message during a ceremony expected to be attended by Heads of State and Governments from across the continent.

The centenary celebration marks the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern entities of Nigeria. Year-long celebrations, which started in February 2013, are expected to peak on 27th February 2014, in Abuja, Nigeria, with a one-day summit on the theme: “Human Security, Peace and Development – Agenda for 21st Century Africa.”

After Abuja, Nigeria, the AU Commission Chairperson will participate in a High Level Committee meeting on the Post-2015 Development Agenda planned for 28 February, 2014, in Ndjamena, Chad. The N’djamena meeting is expected to launch the Common African Position on the Post-2015 Development Agenda and formulate a strategy for advocacy, negotiation and forging alliances, aimed at making input into the global post 2015 development agenda.

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