WORLD BANK SEMINAR

							WORLD BANK SEMINAR
   LINKAGES BETWEEN
  PARLIAMENTS, THE AU
   AND NEPAD IN SADC
    28th TO 29th JANUARY 2004
                THE AFRICAN UNION –
           VISION, ORGANS AND PROGRESS
PRESENTED BY
MS. SUSAN SIKANETA
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
AFRICAN UNION
SOUTHERN AFRICA REGIONAL OFFICE
P.O. Box 30898
LILONGWE 3, MALAWI
Tel. + 265 1 775 335
     INTRODUCTION
 Africa at a crossroads
 Transformation of the OAU
  to the AU
 Need for a clear vision
 The need to champion the
  African cause

                              3
            THE VISION
 United and Strong Africa
 Regional cooperation and economic
  integration means of achieving unity
  and solidarity
 Peace, security and stability critical
  considerations
 Sustainable economic development


                                           4
               OBJECTIVES
   achieve greater unity and solidarity between the African
    countries and the peoples of Africa;

   defend the sovereignty, territorial      integrity   and
    independence of its Member States;

   accelerate the political and socio-economic integration
    of the continent;

   promote and defend African common positions on
    issues of interest to the continent and its peoples;

   encourage international cooperation, taking due
    account of the Charter of the United Nations and the
    Universal Declaration of Human Rights;


                                                               5
                 OBJECTIVES
   promote peace, security, and stability on the continent;

   promote democratic principles and institutions, popular
    participation and good governance;

   promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in
    accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples
    Rights and other relevant human rights instruments;

 establish the necessary conditions which enable the
  continent to play its rightful role in the global economy
  and in international negotiations;
 promote sustainable development at the economic,
  social and cultural levels as well as the integration of
  African economies;

                                                               6
                OBJECTIVES
   promote co-operation in all fields of human activity to
    raise the living standards of African peoples;

   coordinate and harmonise the policies between the
    existing and future Regional Economic Communities for
    the gradual attainment of the objectives of the Union;

   advance the development of the continent by promoting
    research in all fields, in particular in science and
    technology;
   work with relevant international partners in the
    eradication of preventable diseases and the promotion
    of good health on the continent.


                                                              7
  ORGANS OF THE UNION
 The   Assembly
  The Supreme Organ of the Union
  – Heads of State and Government

 Executive    Council
  – Foreign Ministers

 The   Pan-African Parliament
 The   Court of Justice

                                    8
    ORGANS OF THE UNION
 The   AU Commission
   Permanent Representatives
    Committee
 Specialized    Technical
    Committees
 Economic,   Social and Cultural
    Council

                                    9
AFRICA’S ECONOMIC PROGRAMME

   NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR AFRICA’S
    DEVELOPMENT (NEPAD)

   AU ECONOMIC PROGRAMME




                                   10
    CHANGING FACE OF AFRICA
   Africa sick and tired of living in misery
    – High poverty levels
    – HIV/AIDS, Malaria etc
    – Regional Conflicts
    – Droughts


   Development of Culture of Cooperation



                                                11
    CHANGING FACE OF AFRICA
   Commitment to Common Values
    –   Democracy
    –   Peace and Security
    –   Rule of Law
    –   Respect for Human Rights
    –   Regional cooperation and economic integration
    –   Unity, solidarity and progress

   African Leaders championing the African
    cause and vision
    – One Vision
    – One Identity
    – One Hope

                                                        12
                     PROGRESS
1.       The Roadmap So Far
     –    25 May 1963, Addis Ababa
          Founding of the OAU
     –    1991, Abuja
          Treaty establishing the African Economic Community

     –    1993
          Established Mechanism for      Conflict   Prevention,
          Management and Resolution

     –    1999, Algiers
          Decision     on   unconstitutional    changes      in
          Governments


                                                            13
                   PROGRESS
The Roadmap So Far
  – 9 September 1999, Sirte
     Declaration calling for the establishment of an
     African Union

  – 2000
     Declaration on the Conference on Security Stability
     Development and Cooperation
  – 2000, Lome
     Constitutive Act of the African Union entered into
     force
  – 2001, Lusaka
     NEPAD adopted as a program of the AU


                                                          14
                   PROGRESS
The Roadmap So Far
  – 2002, Durban
     Launch of the African Union and First Assembly of
     the   Heads of state and Government of the African
     Union

  – 2002, Durban
     Declaration on the principles governing
     democratic elections in Africa
  – 2003, Maputo
     Members of the Commission elected and
     appointed

                                                  15
                 PROGRESS
2.   Protocols
     –   Court of Justice
     –   Charter on Human and Peoples’
         Rights on the Rights of the Women in
         Africa
     –   Peace and Security Council
     –   The Pan-African Parliament
     –   African Court on Human Rights



                                            16
              CONCLUSION
               SUCCESS FACTORS
   All stakeholders to understand and support

   Mobilisation, sensitization and popularisation

   Investing in the collective power of the AU

   Strategic Management and performance



                                                  17
    FOOD FOR THOUGHT
   Africa can not be marginalised if
    Africans did not marginalise
    themselves

   The 21st Century belongs to Africa


            THANK YOU

                                     18