Towards an Emerging Regional Governance?

Who would have thought it: no less than the US, through Hillary Clinton, urging the world to wait out a UN-backed no-fly-zone on Libya.
This contrasts sharply with when her husband was President in 1999, when Nato was allowed to run rough-shod over the UN Security Council
by dropping bombs on Kosovo, without the backing of the Security Council.

Perhaps even more interesting is listening to this same Hilary Clinton talk about partners, including the Arab League, the African Union; the European Union;Nato; and the Gulf Cooperation Council!

I would have loved to hear in that list the AU-mandated Arab Maghreb Union, but that is okay.

Though I am impressed with Nato Secretary-General Rasmussen's claim that Nato will not act without the backing of the UN Security Council as well, I still have little regard for Nato, an alliance I believe has lost its raison d'etre. Still, hearing that list has given me hope that however and whatever people might feel about the utility--or lack thereof--of these groupings, they DO still exist and they are unlikely to break away anytime soon.

I just hope this Libyan crisis is a wake-up call for them to crank up what may just be the framework for the emergence of some kind of regional governance, where regional organisations are recognised as partners in the resolution of conflict -- everywhere!

Too Many Afro-Pessimists in the Hood

**The AU lacks the mechanism to be proactive and has failed. Its existence is not warranted.

**The AU is nothing but a forum for idling by questionable characters who meet and compare notes on their mismanagement of affairs. The AU itself is a problem that Africans have to solve first.

**Once again, the AU has led Africans to come across as people incapable of solving their own problems. How will we ever be respected if we continue to portray ourselves as "the white man's burden"?

from: http://www.citifmonline.com/index.php?id=1.290993.1.310328

I have just read a fascinating piece by one Dr.Michael J.K. Bokor on Ghana's citifmonline website that reeks of Afro-pessimism. I thought it was important to highlight three quotes that have resonance with a lot of what many African are talking about, namely: the failure of the AU to act in Libya.

While I agree to a large extent that the AU was slow in responding to the crisis in Libya, I never expected it to react so quickly. After all, Libya has been a rather formidable purveyor of African unity in many more ways than we can imagine. While that may have been self-serving for Libya in many respects, the bottom line is that Libya alone has paid the dues of smaller countries unable or unwilling to pay AU dues; plus the country contributes no less than 15% of the AU budget.

Perhaps if AU member states got their act together and paid more of their dues, rather than leaving it for South Africa; Libya; Nigeria; Algeria; and Egypt, we would all have a more functioning AU!

I don't know about you, but last time I looked no organisation can exist without finances--and Libya has offered a lot of that in the service of African Unity. Even if in theory, let's give the devil his due!

On issues of peace and security, it is acknowledged worldwide that outside Europe, the AU outshines Asia and Latin America in conflict prevention, conflict management and conflict resolution initiatives.

As a West African learning every day about my sub-region of ECOWAS, I know that ECOWAS, out of all the regional economic communities, has a significant comparative advantage over the seven other ones on peace and security, having had sound experiences in Liberia and other hot-spots in the sub-region.

Simply put: enough of this Afro-Pessimism by the learned doctor. The AU needs to get its house in order, but it won't do that when the Afro-Pessimists who see nothing good from the AU decide to castigate it, without offering sufficient solutions on how to make it better.


ekbensah@critiquing-regionalism.org

The Blogging Passion's Still Burning...But Like That, He was Gone!

I thought I'd eschew any vestige of melodrama by being as incisive about my point as possible.

But knowing me, it was always going to be difficult!

It is not so much that I have goofed or erred -- just that I've become more of a human being, both pretending to be, and actually being busier than I ever expected.

Undoubtedly, this has affected my blogging. I cannot tell you the number of entries I have started only for them to be lost somewhere in my written diary/journal.

Somewhere.

Like the fire burning in this picture, the passion of blogging remains -- as does my passion of all things Ghanaian and all pictures Ghanaian.

I also love my area of expertise: comparative global regional integration, which is simply how the emerging regions in the world -- the European Union, African Union, ECOWAS, ASEAN -- compare with each other in their respective sectors. Closer to home, there's been a lot of talk about ECOWAS, because of the still-unresolved Ivorian Crisis, which has seen Laurent Gbagbo still in power.

My take is that the African Union meddled too much, leaving egg on the face of the West African bloc of ECOWAS.

I am glad, though, to have seen the ARAB LEAGUE get proactive about Libya; and the AU's powerful Peace and Security Council finally issue a communique about Libya (considering Libya's sponsoring of the Pan-African body to the tune of 15% of the AU's budget!)

I guess life's like that: we're all shades of gray, and a LOT of work-in-progress.

Suffice-to-say, I have more bombastic claims when I get back to regular blogging in April.

I shall be away from blogging proper for a good one month. I'm already getting withdrawal symptoms...

Just like the smoke in the picture, I've been lingering for a while, while the passion burns.

The only difference between me and the picture is that my passion won't ever ebb away -- just gone on hiatus.

Till then!

See you first week of April...

Both ECOWAS & AU must reduce Scare-Mongering on "war" in Cote d'ivoire!

Fears about a war notwithstanding, I feel it is important people understand that without a qualification of what "military intervention" would mean for Cot d'Ivoire, we are all making assumptions about a "hot war", which might not be the case at all. In March 2008, the AU, deploying a surgical objective of removing a dictator in the island of Comoros, went in (without South African or Nigerian troops) with some AU troops in what has been termed a "successful operation." While that island is small--and cannot be compared to Ivory Coast--it reflects the fact that the AU has a precedent in "military intervention". Research from Swedish Foreign Ministry about the Comoros intervention maintains there were no deaths, but some 11 civilians wounded.

Point is: there has been much talk about ECOWAS intervention, through ECOMOG, in Liberia in 1989. The arguments are sound about the need to avoid a direct comparison of the situations. What we must be asking though is why ECOWAS and the AU have not come out to clarify what military intervention would mean, given that ECOWAS has a Standby Force of roughly 6,500 troops which could be deployed--at least in theory. That Ghana has stated publicly about being unable to deploy troops does not foreclose the use of intervention by other ECOWAS member states.

The rhetoric of force in Cote d'ivoire has ironically come a couple of months after the AU declared 2010 to be the Year of Peace and Security. But what the AU failed to also do is provide sufficient information to the wider public about what this means about Africa having a "Peace and Security Architecture", under which regional standby forces, including the ECOWAS Standby Force, can be deployed.

I find it curious that neither the AU or ECOWAS has not sought to correct perceptions that there might be the prospect of an ECOMOG force--as in Liberia. ECOMOG no longer exists. I would have hoped the two leading African protagonists be more vocal about these misperceptions. That is not happening begs more debate that can probably be discussed when tensions around Cote d'Ivoire simmer down.

In the meantime, both ECOWAS and AU must come clean about a "hot war", which many West African citizens fear is likely to happen!

Emmanuel.K.Bensah Jr
p.o.box 19452 Accra-North
ekbensah@critiquing-regionalism.org

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

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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