President Zuma returns from 27th African Union Summit

His Excellency, President Jacob Zuma has returned from Kigali, Rwanda, where he attended 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU Summit) under the theme: “2016 African Year of Human Rights with a particular focus on Women’s Rights.”

Human rights, especially women’s rights remain a cornerstone of South Africa’s policy frameworks such as the National Development Plan, which is in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063 vision that there will be women’s empowerment and gender equality in all spheres of live.

In this regard, South Africa received a country award for achieving economic emancipation of women during an Awards Ceremony at the conclusion of the AU Summit.

The Assembly adopted a Declaration on the theme of the Summit, whereby the AU Heads of State and Government reaffirmed that human rights and the rights of women in particular, are a collective responsibility of all in Africa.

“In addition to the theme, AU Heads of State and Government discussed strategic and urgent matters at the Summit, namely peace and security on the Continent, especially in South Sudan; sustainable financing of the AU; regional integration and progress on achieving the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) by 2017; and United Nations Reform, amongst others,” said President Zuma.

Elections to appoint new Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) also took place but since the candidates were not able to achieve a two thirds majority, the Assembly decided to postpone the elections to the 28th AU Summit scheduled for January 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The current Chairperson of the AUC, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, will continue to chair the Commission until January 2017 when AU Member States will elect and appoint a new AUC comprising a new Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and eight Commissioners. The terms of the Deputy Chairperson and commissioners were also extended.

Regarding the situation in South Sudan, President Zuma attended an urgent meeting of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), to deal with the conflict between the rival parties – the SPLM-in-Government led by President Salva Kiir and the SPLM-in-Opposition led by Vice President Riek Machar.

Representatives attending the meeting agreed that the conflict cannot be allowed to continue and that African Leaders should ensure that the peace process and the people of South Sudan be protected. It was further decided that the two rival military forces should be separated and disarmed.

President Zuma stated that the issue of South Sudan is a priority for South Africa partly because the SPLM has been very close to the ANC and other former liberation movements on the continent. Deputy President Ramaphosa is the President’s Special Envoy to South Sudan and South Africa participates in the AU High Level Implementation Panel for Sudan and South Sudan (AUHIP) which works closely with IGAD.

“As the youngest country on the continent, we should continue to assist South Sudan in nation-building,” said President Zuma.

With regard to peace and security matters on the continent, the Assembly considered the report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the state of peace and security in Africa.

President Zuma stated that AU Leaders reaffirmed the importance of strengthening the continent’s capacity to deal with crises and conflicts in a speedy, efficient and coordinated manner, under the leadership of the AU, and with limited dependence on outside support. In this regard, South Africa will continue to support all efforts aimed at the full operationalisation of the African Standby Force (ASF) and its Rapid Deployment Capability.

President Zuma participated in a Retreat of the Assembly of the AU on Financing the African Union. The AU Heads of State and Government reaffirmed the need to ensure that the AU is financed through predictable, sustainable, equitable and accountable manner with the full ownership of its Member States.

In this regard, the Assembly decided to, amongst others, institute and implement a 0.2 percent levy on all eligible imported goods to the continent to finance the AU operating, programme and peace and security operations budget from 2017. The AU Commission will put in place a strong oversight and accountability mechanisms for ensuring the effective and prudent use of resources.

On the AU Peace Fund, each region of the AU will contribute $65 million from the levy to support the AU Peace Support Operations budget.

AU Leaders also discussed the integration of the continent and fast-tracking the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area by 2017. Infrastructure development and intra-Africa trade were also the focus of discussion during consultations between NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC).

President Zuma stressed that: “Regional integration constitutes an important aspiration of the AU’s Agenda 2063 and remains a critical component of the continent’s efforts to ensure sustainable economic and inclusive growth, through the creation of a larger regional market and improving Africa’s integration in the global economy. The envisaged establishment of the CFTA by 2017 offers an opportunity to create larger economies of scale and a bigger market. South Africa is committed to to a coordinated strategy to boost intra-Africa trade and to build an integrated market in Africa that will see a market of over 1 billion people.”

The Assembly decided to establish a High Level Panel of five eminent persons (one from each region) to champion the fast-tracking of the CFTA.

Also of significance during the Summit was the launch of the electronic passport (e-passport), a flagship project of Africa’s Agenda 2063 with a view to facilitate free movement of persons, goods and services around the continent in order to foster intra-Africa trade, integration and socio-economic development in the spirit of Pan-Africanism.

The Assembly requested the AU Commission to provide technical support to Member States to enable them to produce and issue African passports to their citizens and to put in place an implementation roadmap for the development of a Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in Africa by January 2018, which should come to an immediate effect in Member States. The Assembly also called on other countries and regions of the world to recognize the African passport issued by the Commission and AU Member States.

The AU Leaders considered the Report of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on the Reform of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, particularly given the fact that Africa is still not represented after ten years of negotiations.

President Zuma indicated that AU Heads of State and Government strongly reaffirmed commitment to the African Common Position on UN Security Council Reform, namely the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration. In this regard, the Assembly reiterated its position that Reform of the UN must be all-inclusive and encompass all components of the UN, including the General Assembly and the Security Council and that Africa be fully represented in all the decision-making organs of the UN. Full representation of Africa in the UN Security Council means not less than two permanent seats, including the right to veto and five non-permanent seats.

The Assembly requested AU Member states to include the issue of UN Reform as part of their foreign policy priorities in their engagements with non-African partners. The Committee of Ten will remain seized with its mandate until Africa achieves its objectives on the reform of the UN Security Council.

President Zuma held bilateral talks on the margins of the Summit with his counterparts from Rwanda, Chad and the Central African Republic and discussed issues of mutual concern on bilateral and regional matters.

The Assembly decided that theme of the 28th AU Summit to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2017 will be on “Harnessing Demographic Dividend through Investments in the Youth.”

President Zuma was accompanied by Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; and Minister David Mahlobo, Minister of State Security.

Source: The Presidency Republic of South Africa

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