THE AFRICAN UNION

1

• THE AFRICAN UNION
• AND
• NEPAD
• Department of Foreign Affairs
• June 2004

2
THE STATUSOF THE AFRICAN UNION
3
AFRICAN UNION HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• OAU established 25 May 1963, Addis Ababa
• Since 1979 a need to streamline identified
• Charter amended by augmenting through ad hoc
  decisions of Summit, eg Cairo Declaration
• Need for greater efficiency/effectiveness of the
  Organisation
• Need to integrate political activities of OAU
  with economic and development issues as
  articulated in Abuja Treaty establishing the AEC.

4
AFRICAN UNIONABUJA TREATY (AEC)

• OAU operated on basis of two legal instruments,
  OAU Charter and Abuja Treaty/AEC
• Creation of African Economic Community
• Co-ordination, harmonisation and progressive
  integration of Regional Economic Communities -
  the building blocks of the Continent and Union.

5
AFRICAN UNIONEXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT IN SIRTE,
LIBYA,9 SEPTEMBER 1999

• Objective To amend OAU Charter to increase
  effectiveness and efficiency
• Concluded with Sirte Declaration
• Addressing social/political/economic realities of
  Africa
• Unity
• Revitalise to meet needs of the people
• Eliminate conflicts
• Meet global challenges
• Improve living conditions.

6
AFRICAN UNIONBIRTH OF THE AU

• OAU/AEC Summit in Lomè, Togo in July 2000 adopted
  the Constitutive Act of the African Union in
  terms of the Sirte Declaration of 9 September
  1999
• South Africa signed the Constitutive Act on 8
  September 2000
• Instrument of Ratification deposited on 23 April
  2001
• The Act came into force on 26 May 2001.

7
AFRICAN UNIONOAU/AEC SUMMIT, LUSAKA, ZAMBIA,
JULY 2001

• Decisions pertaining to the transformation of the
  OAU to AU - directed programme for the first two
  to three years of the AU
• Preparation of Draft Protocols and Rules of
  Procedure relating to Organs and Institutions of
  the Union.

8
AFRICAN UNIONOBJECTIVES OF THE AU

• Unity/Solidarity in Africa
• Defend sovereignty/territorial integrity/independe
  nce
• Political/Socio-economic integration
• Common positions on issues of interest
• Encourage international co-operation
• Promote peace/security and stability
• Promote democratic principles/institutions,
  popular participation and good governance
• Promote/protect human rights (African Charter on
  Human and Peoples Rights, and other instruments)

9
AFRICAN UNIONOBJECTIVES OF THE AU CONT.

• Integration into global economy and co-ordinate
  international negotiations
• Sustainable development at the economic/social/cul
  tural levels and integration of economies
• Co-operation to raise living standards
• Co-ordinate/harmonise policies between RECs
• Research in all fields, particularly science and
  technology (ICT, Centres of Excellence eg Kenya
  on Agriculture)
• International partnerships in eradication of
  preventable diseases. (Malaria, Polio, TB)

10
AFRICAN UNIONDURBAN SUMMIT, JULY 2002

• Launch of the AU
• Winding down the business of the OAU during this
  Organisations 38th and last Session of the
  Assembly of Heads of State and Government,
• South Africa the first Chairperson of the African
  Union.

11
THE FIRST THREE YEARS

• The focus has been on two areas
• Putting structures in place which will be able to
  deliver on the scope of the Constitutive Act
• A concerted effort to give effect to all
  decisions by the Assembly and the Executive
  Council.

12
AFRICAN UNIONSTRUCTURES

• Assembly of Heads of State and Government
  Highest decision making organ of the AU - meets
  at least once a year in Ordinary Sessions. No
  limit on Extraordinary Sessions.
• Executive Council of Ministers Primarily
  Ministers of Foreign Affairs - meets at least
  twice a year in regular sessions, and before
  Extraordinary Sessions due to preparatory
  responsibility.
• Permanent Representatives Committee Ambassadors
  and Permanent Representatives of Member States
  stationed at the headquarters of the African
  Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - meets as
  frequently as necessary, but at least once a
  month.

13
AFRICAN UNIONSTRUCTURES

• Commission
• Secretariat of the AU
• Statutes governing function of Commission have
  been adopted
• Structure for Commission adopted
• Chair of the Commission, his Deputy and 8
  Commissioners have been appointed (full gender
  representivity)
• 755 posts in total, 17 allocated to SA due to
  quota system
• Current staff will have to be reassessed and
  re-appointed
• Posts, incl. strategic ones are being advertised
  in a piece-meal fashion
• Appointments done on merit, while taking into
  consideration quota system
• DPSA and DFA working on secondment policy in
  order to encourage quality SA applicants from
  within government.

14
AFRICAN UNIONSTRUCTURES

• Specialised Technical Committees(Meetings of
  line-function Ministers) Not officially
  constituted yet. Will be supported by the
  individual Commissioners and their Directorates.
  Composition based on the Abuja Treaty, but may be
  re-evaluated.)
• Rural Economy and Agricultural Matters
• Monetary and Financial Affairs
• Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters
• Industry, Science and Technology, Energy, Natural
  Resources and Environment
• Transport, Communications and Tourism
• Health, Labour and Social Affairs and
• Education, Culture and Human Resources.

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AFRICAN UNIONSTRUCTURES

• Peace and Security Council
• Standing decision-making organ for the
  prevention, management and resolution of
  conflicts
• The Common African Defence and Security Policy,
  in whose development SA has played a leading
  role, will inform the activities of the PSC.
• Protocol Establishing the PSC entered into force
  26 December 2003. Inaugurated 25 May 2004.
• 15 Members, 5 serving three-year terms and 10
  serving two-year terms - Development of Common
  African Defence and Security Policy
• South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Ethiopia and
  Gabon elected in March 2004 for three-year terms,
  while Lesotho, Mozambique, Cameroon, Congo,
  Kenya, Sudan, Libya, Ghana, Senegal and Togo were
  elected for two-year terms
• Chair rotates on monthly basis.

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AFRICAN UNIONSTRUCTURES

• PSC implementation structures are the African
  Standby Force the Panel of the Wise, Early
  Warning System as well as a Peace Fund
• ASF will have five standby brigades. It will be
  implemented over ten years and will be supported
  by a Military Staff Command. SADC will act on
  behalf of Southern Region and have started
  discussions.
• Panel of the Wise consist of five eminent persons
  appointed by Chairperson of AU Commission -
  awaiting announcement. Will have right to set
  own agenda.
• EWS under development - possibility of using UN
  system with national to regional to continental
  linkages. Makes use of open source information
  and civil society reports.
• Peace Fund through voluntary contributions.
  Other sources of funding under investigation, eg
  tax on arms trade, levies etc. (The EU has
  established a Peace Facility for Africa with ACP
  States who contributed from their national
  programmes unallocated EU funds - 250 Million
  Euro)

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AFRICAN UNIONSTRUCTURES

• Current Conflict and Post Conflict Areas under
  discussion by the PSC
• Angola
• Sierra Leone
• Comoros
• Ethiopia
• Eritrea
• Sudan
• Burundi
• DRC
• Central African Republic
• Liberia
• Somalia
• Côte dIvoire

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AFRICAN UNIONSTRUCTURES

• Pan African Parliament
• Peoples Organ - consisting of five
  parliamentarians per member state (at least one
  of whom must be women)
• Will have advisory role for the first five years
  of its existence, after which a decision will be
  taken on whether this should change)
• SA Parliament played leading role in development
  of PAP Protocol
• Launched in March 2004
• South Africa has offered to host PAP. (An IMC is
  in place and is deliberating on a budget and
  location)

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AFRICAN UNIONSTRUCTURES

• Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC)
• Meeting of civil society
• Established by means of Statutes
• Statutes possibly adopted by July 2004.

20
AFRICAN UNIONSTRUCTURES

• African Court of Justice
• Adjudicates on the interpretation of the
  Constitutive Act of the African Union
• Protocol on the Court of Justice adopted at
  Maputo Summit, July 2003
• (African Court on Human and Peoples Rights
  adjudicates human rights cases, and is separate
  from the Court of Justice for the time being the
  Protocol est this Court has entered into force
  and SA is in the process of appointing a judge).

21
AFRICAN UNIONSTRUCTURES

• Financial Institutions
• Financial Institutions will include
• African Central Bank, (Libya, Togo, Ghana -
  offered to host
• the African Monetary Fund, (Namibia - offered to
  host)
• and the African Investment Bank (Botswana, Kenya,
  Togo, Ghana, Tunisia - offered to host)
• Work is expected to commence later on these.

22
AFRICAN UNION CONTRIBUTUIONS

• New scale of assessment
• Two-tier floor, one of 0.25 and one of 0.75.
• Member states population size, level of
  indebtedness and GDP, among other factors, will
  be used to calculate their level of contribution.
  
• Ceiling of 8.25. Countries such as South
  Africa, Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria will fall in
  this category and will each be responsible for
  8.25 of the total budget of the Union per year.
  
• The AU budget for 2004 stands at USD 43 million
  of which SA paid US 3.368.475

23
AFRICAN UNIONEVENTS 2004/05

• Mozambique current Chair of the AU until July
  2004 (next AU Summit in Addis Ababa)
• Focus shift to substance matters such as
  implementation of NEPAD Programmes (e.g.
  Extra-Ordinary Summits on Agriculture and on
  Poverty)
• Commission in planning phase (Vision and Mission
  and Strategic Framework)

24
AFRICAN UNIONEVENTS 2004/05

• Vision and Mission of the AU Commission
• Geographical and political overview
• Vision - Renascent Pan-Africanism
• Mission broken down into aspects of
• Coherence (relating to role of RECs and
  integration of operational programmes)
• Capacity-Building (Institutions, RECs and
  national structures)
• Reflection (Eg Common African Defence and
  Security Policy comprehensive approach to Defence
  and Security, beyond militaristic view)
• Watchtower (Identify major trends and seeds of
  change - Council on the Future concept)
• Information (Communication Policy)
• Advocacy(Relationships on and outside the
  continent involving all players)
• Follow-up and Evaluation (ensuring implementation
  of Decisions)

25
AFRICAN UNIONEVENTS 2004/05

• Strategic Framework of the AU Commission contains
  and analysis of major challenges and strategic
  areas and identifies five Objectives
• Est accountable and credible Commission
• Develop common African positions on issues of
  strategic interest
• Highlight African culture and sport
• Make integration momentum irreversible through
  promotion of regional integration
• Promote society based on Rule of Law and
  responsible citizenship
• Address poverty by contributing to economic and
  social development

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• New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD)

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NEPAD1. PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

• To accelerate the eradication of poverty and
  inequality in Africa
• To place African countries, both individually and
  collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and
  development
• To halt the marginalisation of Africa in the
  globalisation process
• To promote the empowerment and economic
  integration of women.

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NEPAD 2. PRINCIPLES

• African ownership and leadership
• New partnerships within Africa and with the
  international community
• Accelerating and deepening of regional and
  continental integration and cooperation
• Creation of conducive conditions for economic
  growth and sustainable development in order to
  eradicate poverty
• Creation of conditions that make African
  countries preferred destinations for both
  domestic and foreign investors
• Comprehensive, holistic and integrated approach
  to African development
• Anchoring the development of the continent on the
  resources and resourcefulness of the African
  people
• Commitment to achieving the Millennium
  Development Goals.

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NEPAD 3. NEPAD STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES

• Heads of State and Government Implementation
  Committee (HSGIC) NEPAD is the socio-economic
  development programme of the AU and the HSGIC
  reports annually to the AU Summit. HSGIC
  determines policy, priorities and programme of
  action. It consists of 20 states representing the
  5 AU regions.
• NEPAD Steering Committee comprised of Personal
  Representatives of HSGIC leaders. Develops and
  considers detailed programmes and oversees
  Secretariat.
• NEPAD Secretariat located in Midrand, SA.
  Coordination and liaison function in developing
  and implementing programmes.

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NEPAD 4. PROGRAMME OF ACTION

• CONDITIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT Peace, Security and
  Stability (incl. Conflict prevention, management
  and resolution) Political, Economic and
  Corporate Governance (incl. APRM) Regional
  Integration and Cooperation
• SECTORAL PRIORITIES Infrastructure (Transport,
  Energy, ICT and Water Sanitation) Agriculture
  and Food Security Human Resource Development
  (incl. Education and Health) Environment
  Tourism Science Technology
• MOBILISING RESOURCES Capital Flows (Domestic
  resources, Public Resource Management, ODA, FDI,
  Debt) Market Access, Product Diversification
  Beneficiation, and Intra-Africa trade
• CROSS-CUTTING Capacity Building (incl. Centres
  of Excellence) Gender.

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NEPAD 5. EXAMPLES OF FLAGSHIP PROJECTS

• Short-term Action Plan on Infrastructure
• Studies
• Greater Inga Integrator Study - Continental
  involving RECs
• Trans-Maghreb Railway Study - Country to Country
  involving UMA
• Power interconnections in East, Central and West
  Africa - Regional involving 3 RECs
• Study to improve Financing Mechanism for
  Development of the Water Sector - All RECs

32
NEPAD 5. Examples of Flagship Projects
(Continued)

• Investment Projects
• West Africa Gas Pipeline -ECOWAS Project
• Kenya-Uganda Oil Pipeline - Country to Country
  involving the East African Community (EAC)
• COMTEL - Country to Country involving COMESA
• Mombasa Port Container Facilities - Country to
  Country involving EAC
• Mepanda Uncua Power Project - Country to Country
  involving SADC
• Fougamou-Doussala Road Project - Country to
  Country involving ECCAS

33
NEPAD 5. Examples of Flagship Projects
(Continued)

• Kati-Saraya Road Project - Country to Country
  involving ECOWAS
• EAC Northern Corridor Road Project - EAC Project
• Mamfe-Enugu Road Project - Country to Country
  involving ECOWAS

34
NEPAD 5. Examples of Flagship Projects
(Continued)

• Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development
  Programme
• Extending the area under sustainable land
  management and reliable water control systems
• Irrigation Development and Water Management
  Project (SADC)
• Rural infrastructure and trade related capacities
  for improved market access
• Promoting Regional Agricultural Trade and
  Harmonising SMS Standards (SADC)
• Increasing food supply and reducing hunger
• Strategic Food Reserve Facility (SADC)

35
NEPAD 5. Examples of Flagship Projects
(Continued)

• Agricultural research, technology dissemination
  and adoption
• Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer for
  Strategic Crops (Tissue Culture Banana, Nerica
  Rice, Pigeon Peas, Cassava, Sweet Potatoes
  (ECOWAS, ECCAS, SADC, COMESA)

36
NEPAD 6. IMPLEMENTATION ROLES

• Role of National Governments (national structures
  for coordination, engagement and implementation
  align national development strategies/Poverty
  Reduction Strategy Papers with NEPAD priorities
  and objectives)
• Role of the Regional Economic Communities (align
  regional strategic development strategies with
  NEPAD ensure capacity to drive implementation)
• Role of continental institutions organs of the
  AU, African Development Bank, Economic Commission
  for Africa, African Capacity Building Foundation
• Role of Parliaments (Pan African Parliament and
  Parliamentary Forums)

37
NEPAD 6. IMPLEMENTATION ROLES (Continued)

• Role of civil society (Economic, Social and
  Cultural Council)
• Role of the private sector (NEPAD Business Group,
  ESKOM, Development Bank of Southern Africa,
  Industrial Development Corporation etc.).

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NEPAD 7. OPERATIONALISING THE APRM

• Instrument to monitor performance, share best
  practice and knowledge, promote peer learning and
  provide assistance
• Key Policy documents, Accession document and
  Operational Guidelines completed and adopted
  (March 2003 July 2003 AU Maputo Summit)
• 19 countries signed MOU to join APRM (SA signed
  March 2003)
• Panel of Eminent Persons appointed (28 May 2003)
  and operational (Mde Savane (Chair) Mr Kiplagat,
  Mde Machel, Mr Adedeji, Dr Stals, Ms Njeuma and
  Mr Medelci)
• APRM Secretariat appointed and operational in
  Midrand, SA
• First APR Forum held on 13 February 2004 in
  Kigali, Rwanda
• Country guidelines and Questionnaires sent to
  participating states and first set of country
  reviews and visits to begin shortly (Ghana,
  Rwanda, Kenya and Mauritius). SA review in first
  quarter 2005.

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NEPAD 8. IRPS CLUSTER PRIORITIES Consolidation
of the African Agenda

• Sustainable Development and Poverty Alleviation
  through NEPAD
• Continue to build and harness the capacity and
  political support for the implementation of NEPAD
  Programmes
• Facilitate implementation of the five NEPAD
  priority areas (infrastructure, agriculture, ICT,
  health and human resources)
• Support the development of a NEPAD Tourism Action
  Plan, and support existing sectoral plans (e.g.
  Agriculture, Science and Technology, Health)
• Ensure member states support the establishment of
  a strong NEPAD co-ordination capacity in the SADC
  Secretariat
• Strengthen SAs NEPAD co-ordination
• Prepare SA for APRM process scheduled for 1st
  quarter of 2005.

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NEPAD 9. SA STRUCTURES FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH
NEPAD/APRM PROCESS

• NEPAD
• President
• 2 Ministers (DFA, the dti)
• Quartet 2
• African Renaissance Committee (IRPS Cluster)
• DFA
• NEPAD Business Group (SA), ECOSOCC (SA), NEDLAC
  etc.
• APRM
• The Presidency
• DPSA

41
NEPAD 10. NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

• UN November 2002 Resolution, Monterrey, WSSD
• G8 Africa Action Plan
• EU Cairo Action Plan, Cotonou, Capacity
  building
• OECD and multilateral institutions (IMF, World
  Bank) Africa Partnership Forum
• Bilateral, eg USA (AGOA, Millennium Challenge
  Account, HIV/AIDS)
• Tokyo International Conference on Africas
  Development, Asia-Africa Sub-Regional
  Organisations Conference, Sino-Africa, NAM,
  Commonwealth etc.
• The South (India, Brazil, Malaysia, ASEAN,
  MERCOSUR etc.)
• African Diaspora, international civil society and
  international private sector.

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NEPAD 11. PHASES OF THE NEPAD PROCESS

• FIRST PHASE Development of the base strategic
  framework document accepted at the Lusaka OAU/AU
  Summit (July 2001).
• SECOND PHASE Development of detailed, concrete
  implementation plans for the various priority
  sectors Initial Action Plan for Implementation
  accepted at the Durban AU Summit (July 2002).
• THIRD PHASE Implementation Decisions of the
  Maputo AU Summit (July 2003) re Agriculture,
  Health, Environment, Capacity Building and
  Integration with the AU.

43
NEPAD 12. ACHIEVEMENTS

• Conflict resolution (DRC, Burundi, Angola, Sudan
  etc.)
• Peace Support Operations Plan (AU/NEPAD/G8)
• Operationalisation of the APRM
• Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development
  Programme
• Short-Term Action Plan on Infrastructure
• Health strategy
• Environment strategy
• Establishment of international partnership with
  NEPAD as framework (eg Reversal of decline in ODA
  from 17,73 billion in 2001 to 18,62 billion in
  2002)
• Engagement of all stakeholders
• Addressing Afro-pessimism.

44
NEPAD 13. CHALLENGES

• Strengthening human, financial, technical and
  institutional capacity of African states,
  organisations and institutions to deliver on
  implementation mandate, especially the RECs.
• Broadening of ownership and engagement with key
  stakeholders in Africa.
• Integration of NEPAD principles, priorities and
  objectives in national and regional development
  plans.
• Strengthening and enhancing international
  partnerships with a view to maintaining focus on
  Africa.
• Increasing resource flows to scale up and
  accelerate implementation.
• Broadening and strengthening political
  leadership.

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NEPAD 13. CHALLENGES (Continued)

• Building national, regional and continental
  structures and processes to ensure concrete
  delivery and to foster coordination and outreach.
• Align national and regional development plans
  with NEPAD objectives, priorities and programmes.

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NEPAD 14. CONCLUSION

• NEPAD is a long-term development programme
  (approximately 20 years).
• Good progress is being made but much more needs
  to be done.
• Trust, respect, dialogue and cooperation are
  being strengthened.
• Critical success factors are enhanced political
  leadership, ownership by the people,
  strengthening the institutional, human and
  financial capacity of national, regional and
  continental development institutions, and
  increased support by the international community.