Discussions
Highlights from the 26th Session of the African Union Assembly
Brian Mureverwi, a former tralac intern*, provides an overview of the discussions at the just-concluded 26th African Union Summit
The 26th Session of the African Union Assembly took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 18-31 January 2016. The annual event was attended by Heads of State and Government from the African Continent, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, members of the diplomatic community, and other senior dignitaries. The Summit meets annually to take stock of the implementation of previous summit decisions, and map the way forward for the year ahead. This year’s Summit was held under the theme “2016: African Year of Human Rights, with particular focus on the Rights of Women”. The AU Summit Agenda included issues ranging from economic development, peace and security, and social development.
African Union Commission Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma called for consideration of proposals for free movement of people in Africa, for leaders to place people at the centre of Agenda 2063, to advance the human rights of all peoples, to put an end to the culture that limits the participation of women and girls. Dr Dlamini Zuma said Africa must continue to place people and their basic human rights at the center of Agenda 2063. She observed that under Agenda 2063, Africa has refused to be indifferent or silent on the evil of violent extremism, gender based violence, the suffering and misery of people as a result of wars and conflict, before adding that the African pledge under the agenda is to use its diversity as a force for peace and democracy.
The Commission Chairperson extended a welcome to newly elected Heads of State, Mr John Magufuli of Tanzania and Mr Roch Marc Christian Kabore of Burkina Faso as well as President Alassane Outtara of Cote DÍvoire and President Alpha Conde of Guinea who were re-elected. In concluding her remarks, Dr Dlamini Zuma thanked President Robert Mugabe who was Chairperson of the Union in 2015 for his “excellent guidance”.
United Nations Secretary General Mr Ban Ki Moon congratulated the AU on the choice of human rights as its theme for 2016. He said women should be able to fully take part in society, including in the highest levels of state structures and in peace and security. The age of exclusion is over, he announced. Mr Ban Ki Moon welcomed the AU proposal to deploy human rights observers to Burundi. In his last address as UN Chief, he applauded the efforts of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in bringing peace to Somalia. He also said he was impressed by the many health workers who rushed to help in the Ebola affected countries “while the world was running away”, adding his appreciation for the leadership of the AU and its efforts to deploy hundreds of health workers.
In his last speech as Chairperson of the AU, Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe lamented the continued dominance of the developed countries over world affairs, as well as the lack of African representation in the UN Security Council. President Mugabe dwelt on issues of peace and security saying that, despite continuing conflicts in some parts of the continent, “we witnessed some successes and overall, there was political stability”. He complimented the Amani Field Exercises II, saying it means the continent can now deploy the African Standby Force as a tool for conflict prevention. He too called for the freedom of the people of Western Sahara. President Mugabe noted that climate change has become a real threat, saying the current El Nino phenomenon is increasing chances of hunger and disease.
President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad will be the Chairperson for 2016. In his remarks the AU Chairperson appreciated the environment and atmosphere of the Summit which was peaceful. He thanked the Assembly for their recommendations in respect of the fight against terrorism in Africa. President Deby appealed to all Member States to take seriously, issues which undermine the development of Africa. Dialogue is the key, he said. In addition, he appealed to the African Union to strengthen its efforts to find ways of bringing peace to Burundi and South Sudan. “We cannot tolerant violence which kills thousands of Africans and leaves them displaced, let us all be vigilant and listen to the cries of our people.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Trade and Industry of the African Union Commission (AUC), Her Excellency Mrs. Fatima Haram Acyl, held a press briefing on 27 January 2016 on the margins of the 26th African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government, under the theme: “The African Union’s Trade and Industry Agenda as a catalyst for Africa’s Development”. She highlighted the Department of Trade and Industry’s initiatives within the context of the Agenda 2063, and expressed the urgent need for Africa to industrialize.
According to the Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Africa faces an imperative for structural transformation. H.E. Mrs Fatima Haram Acyl emphasised the importance of creating sustainable jobs that will improve the well-being of the people of Africa, especially women and youth.
The Commissioner for Trade and Industry also pointed out that the African Union’s trade and Industry agenda has to support the continent’s structural transformation agenda, in line with Agenda 2063 and underscored that the fall of the commodity prices have reinforced the imperative of diversifying away from commodities-based economies. “I want to highlight two critical initiatives that are central to ensuring that the AU’s trade and Industry agenda will play a catalytic role in the continent’s transformation agenda. These are initiatives related to the Africa Mining Vision as well as the Boosting Intra African Trade and fast tracking the Continental Free Trade Area”, she said. Commissioner Acyl mentioned that the Africa Mining Vision provides a framework for providing technical assistance currently provided through the 5 year African Minerals Development Center (AMDC) project involving AUC, UNECA, AfDB, UNDP and other partners in a manner that ensures ownership by African governments of these interventions.
With regards to the Boosting Intra-African Trade and the negotiations of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), Commissioner Acyl indicated that the establishment of the CFTA, will create a single market for goods and services in Africa for over a billion people and a GDP of over 3 trillion dollars provides a good reason to invest and partner in Africa. The CFTA, she said, could increase intra-African trade by as much as $35 billion per year, or 52 percent above the baseline, by 2022 especially with the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. She thanked Member States and development partners for their technical and financial support during the preparatory phase and indicated that all efforts have been made to facilitate negotiations for 54 countries. She concluded by announcing that the first negotiating session of the CFTA negotiations will take place in February in Addis Abba, Ethiopia.
Note: The above report was compiled from press briefings during AU Summit Sessions.
* Brian Mureverwi completed an internship at tralac in 2015
Sources
http://au.int/en/sites/default/files/newsevents/programmes/19612-pg-prog_events_xxviii_e.pdf
http://www.au.int/en/newsevents/19612/twenty-sixth-26th-ordinary-session-assembly-union