Job: Pan Africa Programme Office: Peace and Security - Governance (Based in Addis Ababa)

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Dear Friends;

Please help to circulate this advert within your networks.

Cheers;

Desire
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Oxfam Liaison Office with the African Union

Job: Pan Africa Programme Officer
Peace and Security -  Governance (Based in Addis Ababa)

Oxfam works in 100 countries (including 35 in Africa) with partners to bring about lasting change in fighting poverty and related injustice.  We seek to expand our capacity to work with global and regional multilateral institutions including the African Union and African States and hold them accountable to the claims of people living in poverty, suffering and injustice in the African countries we work in. Our Pan Africa Programme is a continental public policy advocacy programme with staff in based Addis Ababa, Dakar, Nairobi and South Africa.

We are looking for someone to lead our work around enabling African civil society organisations to engage African Union policies and power relationships mostly in the areas of Peace and Security and Governance. This aspect of our work has had much impact on a range of pan African alliances and NGOs currently engaging the Peace and Security Council and African Union Commission. You will lead on this work within Oxfam International, coordinate our relationships with key alliances and Oxfam International and be a spokesperson in line with agreed positions.

Are you ready to act with poor people and their allies to make claims on the global and African policy processes? Are you committed to holding African States accountable to their own decisions within the African Union? We are looking for people like you to fill a new position of Pan Africa Programme Officer within the Oxfam International Liaison Office with the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In addition to a Masters degree in political affairs, international relations, law, or social sciences, you will have over three years of demonstrated experience of public policy advocacy, as well as a proven record of advocacy and communication experience in Africa. Sound understanding of human security, conflicts in Africa, humanitarian advocacy, Governance issues, African Union processes and the working of African non-governmental organisations, multilateral institutions and African states are essential.

Salary: 32,000 – 40,000 ETB (approx. 2000 – 2500 USD) per month depending on salary history, qualifications and experience.

Additional benefits: Health coverage, paid leave, housing, provident funds

Are you ready for a challenge and committed to the values, aims and objectives of Oxfam? Submit your application letter and CV by email to: addisababa@oxfaminternational.org.
The closing date for applications is Monday 20 December 2010. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

No phone call please.

**********************************
Désiré  Y. Assogbavi (Mr.)
Pan Africa Director a.i.
Oxfam Liaison Office with the African Union
TK Building, Bole Airport area, Suite 304 B
PO Box.: 2333  Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

Tel:   + 251 (0) 11 661 16 01(switch board)
         +251 (0) 11 661 2492 (Direct line)
        +251 (0) 911 20 83 32 (Cell.)

Fax:  +251 (0) 11 661 2795 or 3533
E-mail: Desire.Assogbavi@oxfaminternational.org
             Desire.Assogbavi@yahoo.com
Skype: assodesir
Website: www.oxfam.org
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Understanding the Relationship between the AU, Africa's RECs and the African Economic Community(AEC)

from: http://regionswatch.blogspot.com/2010/08/understanding-relationship-between-au.html

If you are new to this blog, you might not know that I like to go on a bit...especially about regional integration;-))

Seriously, in my estimation, it is a fascinating discipline of international relations(IR) that's ever-so-ramifying, and ever-so-complex.

It's ramifying because of the various dimensions to it (c.f. the five different kinds of regional integration that exist, and the implications they have for the development of any kind of integration project), and complex because the more answers you get, the more questions arise!

Take the case of the African Union, the African Economic Community, and the Regional Economic Communities.

So we already know of the African Union.

This year, it celebrates its year of Peace and Security. It has an interesting website on http://www.makepeacehappen.net, where it is counting down to 21 September--the day of Peace. We also know that Uganda suffered a carnage on the last day of the FIFA 2010 World Cup because Al-Shabaab wanted to punish that country for sending troops to Somalia for the AU's Mission in Somalia

Last week I touched on the "rationalisation of the Regional Economic Communities". where I offered a brief historical survey as to how and why Africa, in its discourse on integration, likes to talk about "regional economic communities". The key year to remember is 2006--an important year for discussions and implementations on RECs.

What about the African Economic Community? (AEC)

I'd be happy to hear what you know of it--or don't.

I'm always operating from the assumption that what I offer here is assisting in building up the knowledge of someone, somewhere. So give me my soapbox, please!

Truth be told, the AEC is already in operation, and has been since May 1994. The Treaty establishing the AEC was signed in ABuja, Nigeria in 1991. The AEC offers a framework for continental integration. The RECS are mere building blocs towards the full realisation of the AEC.

As regards the AEC, it has set no less than SIX stages to be fully operational. Starting from 1994, it has allowed 34 years for FULL political and economic integration. That makes 2018/2019 an important year. So, if we're lucky, by 2020, the African Economic Community should be fully operational, with the 8 AU-recognised RECs possibly subsumed under regions of North, Central, East, South and West African Economic Communities.

I believe the reality to be very different by 2020. As RECs gain prestige in their comparative advantages of peace/conflict management; infrastructure, etc, they would be wont to maintain themselves as legal personalities in their own right, and not necessarily want to subsume their staff and competencies under one sub-regional economic community!

If what Ghanaian lawyer and academic Dr.Richard Frimpong Oppong says is anything to go by in his fantastic piece "the african union, the african economic community and africa's regional economic communities", given that the African Economic Community does not have a legal personality--that is to say that it has rights, protections, privileges, responsibilities, and liabilities under law, just as natural persons (humans) do--it already makes the framework upon which the African Union operates rather shaky and tenuous.

This is because while there is a protocol establishing the relationship between the AEC and RECs, "to what extent are the RECs bound by decisions of the AEC? Since the RECs, which have their own legal personality, are not parties to the AEC Treaty, what is the legal basis for assuming that they will merge and form the African Economic Community?"[italics are that of Dr.Oppong in his piece on p.94]

In my opinion, this is the crux of his piece--and a very important one at that too. Even more important is "rationalising", if you will, the relationship between the AEC and RECs as they progress and advance in their development. This other important point ought not to be lost on us mere mortals and students as we cogitate over the future of African integration and where the AU is going.

In my view, Dr.Oppong has opened up a whole new can of worms around African integration--some of which I will for sure be touching on over the next couple of weeks.

Can you blame me when I continue to search for the elusive quest of a critical and progressive look at regional integration, and still claim that it is ever-ramifying?

Fwd: [African Citizens] 15th Summit of the African Union : Highlights

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: DESIRE ASSOGBAVI <assodesire@yahoo.com>
Date: 2010/7/29
Subject: [African Citizens] 15th Summit of the African Union : Highligths
To: AfricanCitizens@yahoogroups.com, AU Summit Update <AUsummitUpdate@yahoogroups.com>

 

Background

 

The 15^th Ordinary Summit of the African Union was held in Kampala, Uganda under the theme "Maternal, Infant and Child Health and Development in Africa".  Beside that issue, this summit happened in the mid-way of the AU's Year for Peace and Security launched during the January 2010 Summit in Addis Ababa.  The Peace and Security Council of the AU (PSC) met during the Summit in Kampala and renewed UNAMID's mandate for another 12 months. The Summit adopted a presidential declaration on Maternal, Infant and Child Health and agreed on   an African Common Position on MDGs.

 

The twin bomb attacks in Kampala a few days before the summit reopened the debate on the situation in Somalia.

 

53 African States delegations including more than 30 Heads of State, various non-African countries representatives, and Non Governmental organizations from all over the world attended the Summits covered by more than 500 journalists. The Mexican President, The President of the Palestinian Authority, The Prime Minister of St Vincent and Grenadines were among the special invited Guests of the Summit.

 

 

A- Highlight of Summit Decisions

Maternal New Born and Child Rights in Africa (MNCH)

The Summit adopted a declaration titled "Actions on Maternal, New Born and Child Health and Development in Africa by 2015" including the following commitments:

-    Reaffirmation of previous commitments aimed at acceleration of the health of African people and social development

-    Acceleration of efforts to improve the state of health of Africa's women and children and thereby to attain all Millennium Goals particularly MDGs 4, 5, and 6 by 2015

-    Launch of CARMMA (Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality) in countries and broaden it as an advocacy strategy for the promotion of MNCH in the continent and institutionalize an annual CARMMA week

-    Strengthen primary health care, reposition family planning including reproduction health, mitigate human resource crisis in the health sector

-    Sustainable financing by enhancing domestic resources mobilization including 15% Abuja target

-    Call on the Global Fund for Fight against HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB to create new window to fund MNCH

-    Institute a functional monitoring and evaluation framework at country level to track performance

-    Annually report to the AU Assembly on progress.

 

5-year review of the Abuja call for accelerated actions towards Universal access to HIV/AID, tuberculosis and malaria services in Africa

The Summit:

-    Decided to extend the Abuja call to 2015 to coincide with MDGs

-    Requested the AU Commission in collaboration with other organs to revise the reporting framework and disseminate it to members States and to monitor and conduct an evaluation of the Abuja call implementation in 2013 and 2015

 

Abuse of the principle of universal jurisdiction and ICC

The Summit

-    Requested the AU Commission to finalize the study on the implications of empowering the African Court on Human and People's Rights try international crimes and report to the Assembly by January 2011

-    Underscored the need for African States to speak with one voice to ensure that the interest of Africa are safeguarded during the forthcoming negotiations on the principle of universal jurisdiction at UN level

-    Reiterated its commitment to fight impunity

-    Reiterated its call to the UNSC to defer President Bashir case for 1 year

-    Reiterated its decision that AU member States shall not cooperate with the ICC in the arrest and surrender of President El-Bashir of Sudan

-    Requested AU Members States to balance, where applicable, their obligation to the AU with their obligation to the ICC

-    Urged Member States to speak with one voice in the AU call that the UN General Assembly should take over the power of the UNSC to defer ICC cases in case the UNSC failed to take a decision within a timeframe

-    Decided to reject for now, the request of the ICC to open a Liaison office to the AU in Addis Ababa.

-    Expressed concern over the conduct of ICC prosecutor over President Bashir  and other cases in Africa

 

Peace and Security in Africa

Somalia:

The Summit:

-    Reaffirmed full support to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG)

-    Condemned all Al Shabab attacks and terrorist acts

-    Encouraged TFG to work towards national reconciliation and unity among Somalis

-    Recognised the imperatives of political engagement in Somalia and requested the Chairperson of the AU Commission to appoint a high level personality to galvanize international support and attention for Somalia and the engagement of the population in governance process in order to enhance the legitimacy of the TFG

-    Called on the transformation of AMISOM into an UN peace keeping mission

-    Committed to immediately add more troops to AMISOM  (8,000 and more)

 

Sudan (south):

The Summit

-    Stressed the critical importance of the partnership between the NCP and the SPLM and urged them to expeditiously address the outstanding issues in the CPA implementation particurlaly the resolution of the issues of Abyei, the modalities for the organization of the popular consultation in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan states and the completion of the demarcation of the North-South border.

-    Pledged full support to the sudanees parties and its commitment to respect the outcome of the referendum.

 

Sudan (Darfur):

The Summit:

-    Expressed concerns at the recent degradation of the security situation in Darfur and called all parties to demonstrate restraint

-    Encourage parties to the Doha process to intensify effort towards achieving progress

-    Expressed full support to early convening in Darfur of the Darfur-Darfur Conference as envisaged by the AU High-Levem Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP)

-    Welcome AUHIP work in support to the implementation of the CPA, the negotiations of post referendum issues etc.

-    Stressed the importance of an effective coordination at international level and on the ground in support to sudaness parties

-    Welcome the establishment of the Sudan Consultative Forum co-chaired by the AU and the UN

 

The Peace and Security Council:

-    Extended, for a further period of 12 months, the mandate of UNAMID as defined by UN Security Council resolution 1769 (2007) of 31 July 2007, and requested the Security Council to do the same;

-    Expressed concern at the consequences of the warrant of arrest against President Al–Bashir on charges of genocide and urged the United Nations Security Council to assume its responsibilities and heed the call for the deferral of the process initiated

-    Noted with satisfaction the progress made in the deployment of UNAMID military, police and civilian components, which have now reached 88%, 70%, and 75%, respectively, of the authorized strength.

-    Welcomed the agreed outcome of the last meeting of the Tripartite Mechanism, which took place in Addis Ababa, on 10 May 2010, particularly the conclusion relating to the need to articulate UNAMID activities towards a cost efficient employment of its assets and capabilities, including in support of post–conflict reconstruction and development activities.

-    called on the Government of Sudan to continue to extend the necessary cooperation to enable the mission effectively carry out its mandate, including by taking the steps required to facilitate the use of UNAMID aerial assets, such as the Tactical Helicopter Units based in Nyala.

Reiterated its call on all the countries having the necessary capabilities to provide UNAMID with the required military enablers, to enhance the capacity of the Mission;

 

 

Year for peace and Security in Africa – 2010 (YoPS)

The Summit:

-    Urged Members States to fully take ownership of the YoPS by signing and ratifying all relevant AU instruments including the Charter on Democracy, Elections and Good Governance.

-    Welcomed initiatives undertaken by African CSOs in response to the AU's call for parternership on the YoPS activities and encourage businesses to contribute in the initiative.

-    Endorsed the initiative of the Peace Day – 21 September 2010 as a way to provide a single rallying point for the continent to show that peace is possible through the following activities: Cessation of hostilities in all conflicts areas, distribution of humanitarian aids, 1 minute of silence for peace at 10 GMT, "Make Peace Happen" lesson to be taught in all school etc.

-    Called on all non-state actor partners including CSOs to contribute to the Peace Day.

-    Expressed gratitude to GTZ, Oxfam, UNICEF, UNIFEM and UNHCR for their contribution and support to the YoPS activities

 

Panel of the Wise's new appointed members:

-    President Kenneth Kaunda (Southern Africa

-    Mrs Marie Madelaine Kalala-Ngoy (Central Africa)

-    Mrs. Chnery Hesse (West Africa)

-    President Ahmed Ben Bella (North Africa) – Re-appointed

-    Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim (East Africa) – Re-appointed

 

Other decisions taken by the Summit

-    Establishment of a pan African University

-    Establishment of the African Petrolem Fund

-    Climate change negotiations

-    Implementation of previous AU Decisions

-    African Diaspora Summit

-    Reform of the UN Security Council

-    Prevention and combating terrorism

-    Alternative sources of financing

-    AU Staff regulation and rules adopted

-    3^rd Africa-Europeen Union Summit

-    Adoption of the African maritime Transport Charter

-    Preparation of the 2^nd Afro-Arab Summit

-    July 2011 summit theme to be on Youth empowerment for sustainable development

-    Gabon to host the July 2014 Summit

-    January 2011 Summit (16^th ordinary Summit) to be held from 24^th to 31 January 2011 in Addis Ababa

-    Election and appointment for the African Human Rights Commission, African Committee of Experts on the Rights of the Child, Judges of the African Court on Human and people Rights

-    NEPAD Committee of Heads of State

 

 

 

********************************

Désiré Y. Assogbavi (Mr.)

Tel.   + 251 (0) 11 661 2492  + 251 (0) 11 661 2492    (Direct Line)

         +251   (0) 11 661 16 01  (0) 11 661 16 01 (Office)

          +251 (0) 911 20 83 32  +251 (0) 911 20 83 32 (Cell.)

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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Where are the AU missions?

I would have thought that a country like Ghana would have an AU mission here. I learn instead that Nigeria does...in Lagos. I have googled incessantly to find out where the AU mission is. What I have found instead is an AU agency:

AFRICAN UNION SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND RESEARCH COMMISSION.

Even then, there is no website. I sincerely believe Lagos can do better, surely?!!

Thankfully, NAIROBI has one, which address can be found below:

African Union/Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources
PO Box 30786 Museum Hill, Westlands Road Nairobi/Kenya
Tel: +254 20 367 4000 Fax: +254 20 367 4341
ibar.office@au-ibar.org

The AU has a New Website, Albeit in Beta

Belated Happy AU Day! Though it has been a while since I wrote in here, I have been powerfully scanning the horizon on issues of African unity.

I am glad to read on the AU website that the AU is well and truly pursuing the issue of the AU Commission being transformed into an African Union Authority(AUA). The documents in question can be found here: http://www.africa-union.org/root/ua/Actualites/2010/mai/legal%20Counsel%20meeting.doc and http://www.africa-union.org/root/ua/Conferences/2010/mai/OLC/17-21mai/NV%20Legal%20Experts%20Meeting%2017-21%20May%202010%20Eng0001.pdf.

Interestingly, too, the AU, to celebrate AU Day in its 47th year, has come out with a new website, which can be visited here: http://www.au.int/?q=home.

Africa should do well to remember that UNITY is the only option. This is not inconsistent with the pursuit of programmes that facilitate regional economic integration--as exemplified by the UNECA-mandated eight regional groupings

Africa CAN--MUST--Unite!

Fwd: ECA Press Release: CODA to study financing of regional integration in Africa

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <ECAWEB@uneca.org>
Date: 2010/5/26
Subject: ECA Press Release: CODA to study financing of regional integration in Africa
To: ATameru@uneca.org

CODA to study financing of regional integration in Africa

ECA Press Release No. 40/2010

Abidjan 26 May 2010 (ECA) - The Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA), convened a policy forum on "Financing Regional Integration in Africa"on 25th May, Africa Day, as a side event of the 2010 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire.

The forum discussions focused on issues related to the financing requirements for enhancing regional integration in Africa, including regional infrastructure development, and the possibilities of establishing a new regional integration fund to drive this agenda forward. Participants included the Chair of the CoDA Board, President Festus Mogae, as well as the majority of the CoDA Board, members of the private sector and civil society, and, experts on regional integration from the African Union Commission (AUC) the AfDB and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The forum concluded with agreement that CoDA would seek to take this process forward by commissioning a detailed and comprehensive study on how the financing of regional integration could, and should, be up-scaled, in particular, through the use of innovative and wide-ranging modalities.

Advocacy to promote regional integration is one of CoDA's priority areas of focus. In that context, the CoDA Chair and Board members also participated in the official launch in Abidjan, on 24th May, of the 4th edition of "Assessing Regional Integration in Africa (ARIA IV)", a biannual report jointly prepared by ECA, AUC and AfDB. According to the latest report, entitled "Enhancing intra-African trade", over 80 percent of Africa's total exports are still destined for Europe, Asia and America while a comparable percentage of the continent's imports are obtained from the same markets. ARIA IV concludes that a focus on regional integration is critical to accelerate the transformation of fragmented economies to expand markets and widen economic space.

During the working sessions of the CoDA Board, which were also held in Abidjan, the Board adopted a resolution approving a Statute for the initiative, which transforms it into a fully independent entity, that will be supported by the private sector and civil society, as well as the AUC, AfDB, and ECA. It was announced that the search process for a full time Executive Director to head the new organization would begin shortly with the advertisement of the vacancy announcement for the position.

President Mogae also informed a press conference on Tuesday evening that the Board had agreed a programme of work for the rest of 2010. This, he said, included advocacy activities on climate change in collaboration with the AUC, AfDB and ECA (which are jointly convening the 7th African Development Forum on this theme in October 2010), advocacy on the threat of transnational crime to political stability in Africa, and the organization of a side event at the forthcoming African Union Summit in Kampala in July, 2010, highlighting the regional integration issues featured in ARIA.

The next CoDA meeting of the CoDA Board will be convened in November 2010 in Mauritius.

Ends.


Background: The Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA) is a new, independent, international, African-owned forum that identifies and discusses issues of importance to Africa's development within a global context. It is a think tank that advocates for the continent, brings together a range of stakeholders to promote dialogue and provides a platform for African voices to be heard. It is policy-oriented, and works in collaboration with other African and international organizations addressing issues of Africa's security, peace, governance and development. CoDA is sponsored by, but is not a program of, the African Union Commission, the UN Economic Commission for Africa or the African Development Bank. It is governed by a Board of eminent African and non-African personalities and receives support from the private sector.



Issued by:
ECA Information and Communication Service
P.O. Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

Tel: 251 11 5445098
Fax: +251-11-551 03 65
E-mail: ecainfo@uneca.org
Web: www.uneca.org

Fwd: [African Citizens] Note on Training on “Understanding the African Union’’ 7 – 9 April 2010, Kampala, Uganda

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: CCP - African Union <aucitizens@yahoo.com>
Date: 2010/4/12
Subject: [African Citizens] Note on Training on "Understanding the African Union'' 7 – 9 April 2010, Kampala, Uganda
To: africancitizens@yahoogroups.com

 

Training on "Understanding the African Union''

7 – 9 April 2010, Kampala, Uganda

On 7-9 April 2010, fifty participants from all the five geographical region of Africa attended the training on "Understanding the AU", organised by the African Union Commission in collaboration with the Pan African Movement and Oxfam International in Kampala, Uganda.

Within the different sessions, panelists drawn from the African Union Commission (Cabinet of the Chairperson, Legal Department, CIDO), ECOSOC, Oxfam International, Save The Children and the Darfur Consortium made presentations on the following issues:

 

•      Origin, growth and development of the AU system-its issues, problems and challenges

•      AU policy and decision making processes

•      Overview of the AUC- its internal reforms, vision, mission, mandate and strategic plan

•      About the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the AU

•      Strengthening popular participation-Guide to AU Structures and Processes and CSOs Entry Points

•      Accreditation for the Biannual Ordinary Summits and Pre-Summit

•      Advancing CSOs agenda within the AU, challenges and opportunities

 

National media widely covered the training and Certificate of participation co-signed by the AU Commission, Oxfam and the Pan Africa Movement was given to each participant.

 

It was agreed that this training would be systematically held biannually every year whereby one would be an all encompassing training on the AU structures and processes while the other would focus on a specific organ of the AU. In addition, it was also decided that a special session on the ongoing integration process will be organised.

 

Furthermore, Fahamu/AU Monitor has been commissioned to lead on the designing and the drafting of a training Manual to be used for further trainings. Also, participants from Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria, have expressed their interest in organising national activities to sensitise their respective countries and spread their knowledge of the AU and to that effect have invited organisers to support them in their endeavours. 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Ghana! Long live Nkrumah! (An Ode to Pan-African-ism)

It is always difficult to talk about Ghana's March 6 independence day without talking about Dr.Kwame Nkrumah--quintessential Pan-Africanist. I cannot wait to see what the African Union has in store to commemorate his birthday.

Even before then, I am keen to see how minds will be sensitized the necessity of whipping up support for Pan-Africanism. Many of my contemporaries who have had the opportunity to travel outside Ghana and the continent and come back regrettably are hooked onto the capitalist ideology of free-markets. So imbued are they to that and the concept of foreign investment that I suspect the mere mention of Pan-Africanism is sufficient to send most of them to a catatonic state.

But let me be more clear about my point: the AFrican Union, in my humble view, would have to be invented did Nkrumah not invest energies into it. Despite how far it has come--to the extent that we can now talk of a "Peace and Security Architecture" or APSA (http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/acp/regional-cooperation/peace/capacity_building/apsa_en.htm)--I sincerely believe that the communication of it remains so execrable that most Africans are unable to appreciate the quality of the experience known as the AU experience.

Not to mention how the youth have been excluded from participating in discussions and events that seek to promote, and reduce the level of abstraction that issues on the AU seems to hover around.

An understanding of the AU will never happen quickly without interested Pan-Africanists choosing to make more noise than necessary about where the AU is and where it's going!

How Quickly one Forgets Libya's Instrumentality in the AU!!

PANAF NewsAlerts 008


Editor’s Note


The 14th Summit draw much World attention, thanks in particular to Maummar al-Ghaddafi. His rebuke of the African Union should also command your awareness. While we’re at it, let’s also thank him for spearheading the creation of the AU itself. How quickly we forget Sirte, indeed his birthplace. The Sirte Declaration paved the way for the AU to be realized, and something of substance, far removed from the talk shop days of the OAU. You could actually see milk teeth appearing in new inter-governmental organization save for the usual Heads of State directing the affairs of the continent according to their own interests. Yet these gradualists, as they are called, worked diligently this past year to sideline political unity for Africa. Red Card! We all know why the AU was created, and we all know the urgency of our complete unification. To make progress at every step of the way is imperative to our survival as a people on Earth. One people, Africa! So, as we see very poignantly in Haiti, to delay aid means one’s life. We should be rushing to unify, to come to each other’s aid, especially during crisis. And so, the gradualists tighten our noose, ridiculing the creation of a continental federation of African states. How can we protect our dream? In this PANAF News Alert, I offer you an article from Speaker of the Gambian Assembly, the Honorable Elizabeth Renner, who reminds us that leaders, especially our Heads of State in Africa, are not the catalysts for change. She pleads to the masses to entrench and intertwine their lives within Pan African action. Ditto that message for the African Diaspora. In anycase, I think you’ll enjoy hearing positive developments from the Nigerian Community in Gambia. Elsewhere, I point you to


Did you know that Guinea, Madagascar, and Eritrea were recently booted from the AU? The former two were suspended due to “coups”. The latter due to an accusation that the state was sponsoring Somali militants. A quick biased judgment was made on Guinea that led to. And it is clear that the change of power was urgently necessary in Madagascar for the sake of the people and environment. Eritrea, well, let’s ask, who doesn’t have a hand in Somali affairs? If the AU will be partial to certain interests when it comes to membership within its structure then we have certainly a compromised institution. The AU can not condone political coersion and violent control on one hand, and punish a popular revolution on the other. Perhaps it was good gesture for Mr.DJ to boycott the 14th Summit. Lastly, an update on the repatriation of Haitians to Africa, and for those excited about the new direction of the AU, I’ve included an AU press release on its slick new flag and an article about the integration of NEPAD into the AU Structure.


Nkosi Sekele Afrika!

Ikeme

Handguide to the AU Launched on 27 January!

On 27th January a 70-page Hand Guide written both in English and French entitled ‘’Strengthening Popular Participation in the African Union: A Guide to AU Structures and Processes’’ will be launched here in Addis at the Hilton Hotel. It is a practical tool aiming to assist citizens and organizations to engage with African Union policies and programmes.

It describes the AU decision-making process and outlines the roles and responsibilities of the AU institutions. It also contains a sampling of the experiences of several non-governmental organizations that have interacted with the African Union in the past.

The main purpose of the publishers of this Hand Guide, Oxfam and Afrimap, is to support the African Union’s commitment to a vision of an Africa that is ‘‘integrated, prosperous, peaceful and driven by its own citizens’’.

addisababa@oxfaminternational.org or programmes@ccpau.org