Opening Speech by Dr Jean Ping on The Occasion of The First Annual US-African Union Level Meeting
African Union
Deputy Secretary Of State Jacob Lew,
Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carlson,
Ambassador Battle,
Distinguished Participants,
Thank you, Deputy Secretary Jacob Lew for your kind and important remarks.
Last June when President Obama was in Ghana, he said, "We believe in Africa's potential and promise. We remain committed to Africa's future. We will be strong partners with the African people".
Permit me to respectfully echo that declaration, by saying that Africa on its part, believes in USA's commitment, partnership and support, and Africa is determined to assume its responsibilities and obligations as a fully fledged member of the international community. In this context, we are convinced that Africa and USA can easily build and design in this interconnected world, their 21st century relationship on the basis of the principles of shared values, mutual respect, confidence and commitment, and partnership.
It is with this firm belief and with the deepest sense of responsibility and commitment that I stand before you to address this distinguished gathering of the first annual US-African Union high level meeting, on this momentous and historic occasion.
On behalf of the AU Commission and in my own name, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation and sincerest gratitude to the USA for the efforts that have been made for the preparation for this meeting.
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
It is obvious that Africa and USA have had a long history of cooperation and are bound together by strong economic, social and cultural ties; but such cooperation has been mainly at bilateral level. Now, it is clear that the world has been marked by tremendous changes: particularly, globalization, the arrival of such new players on the international scene as the civil society, the advent of a new era of empowerment and above all, the visibility and the surge in the power of regional organizations and groupings such as the African Union, the European Union, ASEAN and MERCOSUR.
In addition, new global threats and challenges, such as terrorism, the global financial and economic crisis, and piracy, drugs and related problems, trafficking in all its forms, organized crime and climate change, are assuming greater prominence on the global agenda. They can no longer be confined to- or solved by- one country alone. All are global threats to global security and they call for global solidarity. As I had said elsewhere, Africa has the duty and responsibility to take up its challenges in the area of poverty, underdevelopment, democratic governance, health, food security, infrastructure development and conflict management, and I can assure you that the African Union and the African States are working very hard in that direction. The principles enshrined in our texts prove this, as well as our daily actions.
As you may know, the African Union Commission is the principal organ for executing the objectives, the mission and the vision of the African Union. That vision aims at concretizing the dream of an independent Africa that is united and strong; an Africa in a position of comparative advantage vis a vis the rest of mankind and whose concerns should be taken on board; as a matter of fact, we believe in the dignity of the African people who for a long time, have suffered from injustice and iniquity in the past. All we want is a continent free from want and free from fear.
This commitment translates into the mandate of the Commission which is pursuing a comprehensive strategic plan which forms the basis for the formulation and implementation of the various programmes, projects and activities of the Union. This Strategic Plan is articulated around four major pillars, namely: Peace and Security, Development, Shared Values and Institutional and Human Capacity Building. Significant progress has been made in all these areas.
Let us take the example of the pillar Peace and Security: the African Union now has a continental architecture for peace and security, whose cornerstone is the Peace and Security Council. In addition, we have the Continental Early Warning System, the Panel of the Wise and the African Standby Force. This African Standby Force (AFS), composed of five regional brigades, will be ready for rapid deployment at short notice. This confirms the resolve of African leaders to act on their own and to take their destiny into their own hands, especially in the area of conflict resolution. It is important to point out that the African Union has been dispatching peace keeping forces regularly to conflict areas. These include in Darfur where we are with the United Nations through the African Union/UN hybrid operation, with the support of USA. In Somalia, where the African Union is still alone, we have deployed troops (AMISOM) in order to protect the institutions of this country, which has been described as a failed State, without functioning institutions and which has been abandoned by everybody for 20 years now.
On "Shared Values", we continue to promote best practices in critical areas such as good governance, democracy, and respect for the rule of law, as well as human rights and the fight against corruption, including transparency and accountability. For example, the African Union has been intervening in cases of crisis or coup d'état, such as in Mauritania, Guinea, Madagascar and Niger most recently. In fact, the African Union has established advanced principles and tenets, based on Article 4 of its Constitutive Act. Once a coup d'état occurs, the Chairperson of the Commission is obliged to immediately condemn it. Then, the Peace and Security Council meets in order to suspend the country, while mandating the Chairperson of the Commission to take necessary actions to restore constitutional order in the country. It is under this framework that mediation teams, and possibly, International Contact Groups are set up. This is to show the African Union's commitment, in the event of an unconstitutional change of government, as opposed to what happens elsewhere in the world, such as in Honduras, Thailand or Fiji and Kyrgyzstan.
So far, the human rights situation in Africa is encouraging. We must not lose sight of the shift towards a shared-value approach in the protection and promotion of human rights as provided for, in Articles 3 and 4 of the African Union Constitutive Act which emphasize the significance of good governance, the rule of law and human rights. Undoubtedly, African leaders have increasingly adopted participatory and multiparty democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights as key elements to their political reforms, within the framework of the African Union. The subscription by many African countries to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), and the African Charter for Democracy, Elections and Governance, are indicative of their commitment to good governance (economic and political), as well as being a reaction to donors requirements or conditionality. Of course, there are countries which are still lagging behind.
Other challenges confronting Africa include gender inequality which is persisting and blatant. The African Union continues to play a key role in dealing with this problem.
The African Union recognizes that peace; democracy and development are interconnected. Consequently we also have the pillar of development. Here efforts are being made, both at the regional and continental levels, to develop key areas such as institutional capacity, infrastructure and energy, agriculture as well as health and educational facilities.
Finally, it cannot be overemphasized that to achieve all the foregoing, we need to focus on capacity building and strong institutions. Hence, the fourth pillar, which is an essential tool, particularly for the implementation of the irreversible process of continental integration. This includes strengthening linkages and synergies across relevant Departments in the Commission to ensure effective delivery of our mandate; provision of adequate and appropriately skilled human resources; transparent financial and administrative management systems; operationalisation of other organs.
This is the menu we have set for ourselves over the next years which we believe is in line with the aspirations and priorities of the people of the African Union. As you would notice, these four pillars are mutually reinforcing and interrelated.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Before concluding, permit me to reiterate that Africa is a continent of great opportunities; it is not a continent of problems. Africa is the richest continent in the world, in terms of its natural and mineral resources. Africa supplies up to 31% of the world's demand for bauxite, cobalt, gold, manganese, phosphate and uranium. Additionally, it supplies 57% of the world's need for chromium and diamonds, and the hydrocarbon (oil) deposits are immense. Ironically, due to the low level of industrial development, the continent consumes very little of these resources. Most are exported as raw materials without any local value addition and beneficiation. Through the establishment of the African Union and the adoption of NEPAD as the strategic programme of the Union, Africa is determined to resolve this paradox of poverty in the midst of abundant resources.
Whatever success we achieve in fighting and overcoming our challenges will definitely open up the great opportunities and potentialities that the continent holds in its bosom. Its immense natural resources, if well-harnessed, will accrue benefits not only to its people but also to all its partners. It is also the continent that offers the highest returns on investment.
Furthermore, as Africa's population continues to grow, the size of its market also increases and could reach about 1, 4 billion consumers by 2020/2025. By 2050 Africa may have a population of 2 billion, thereby making it even more attractive to investors. It is this market size and natural resources deposits that have drawn the interest of emerging powers of both the North and the South. And, it is what explains its appeal as a strategic partner.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me conclude by assuring you that the African Union Commission is fully prepared to cooperate and collaborate with the USA in defining the areas of our future cooperation and we stand ready and committed to ensuring that whatever assurances we have given to each other, will be pursued for our mutual benefit.
I thank you all very much for your attention and, once again, pledge the AU Commission's full commitment to working and cooperating closely with the USA.
Thank you.
News Press 04-28-10
