AU Monitor: Issue 115, 2007

[Selome Araya]

*Issue 115, 2007- Weekly Roundup*
**

*AU Monitor Announcements*

This week the AU Monitor announces an internship
opportunity<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/542/>for
young African journalism professionals to report from the African
Union
Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2008. Journalists will be given
training on the African Union and will be expected to produce daily reports
from the summit meetings, amongst other duties. The Monitor also launches
its Monthly Discussion Paper
series<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/547/>this
week, with Professor Mammo Muchie examining the necessity for a
Pan-African monetary union. The series is intended to promote discussion,
debate, and sharing among the community of citizens and civil society across
Africa committed to the ideals of pan-Africanism and a people-driven union.

In AU news, the Department of Social Affairs and the Division of
Communication and Information, in conjunction with UNAIDS, observe World
Aids Day <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/534/> by
conducting a series of sensitization campaigns and educating the public
about HIV/AIDS risks. Also acknowledging World Aids Day, the Africa Public
Health Rights Alliance
(APHRA)<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/543/>encourages
African governments to allocate 15% or more of their budgets to
health. APHRA coordinator Rotimi Sankore expresses this sentiment: "African
governments must also fund African health strategies and plans if Africa is
to be taken seriously in its fight against infectious diseases and to
improve Public Health".

On the heels of the 8th Ordinary Session of the Pan-African
Parliament<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/536/>(PAP),
Saki Mpanyane assesses the PAP's capacity to carry out its initially
intended mandate. This analysis provides the challenges faced by the PAP and
suggestions for improvement for this AU organ.

In Sino-African news, Farhana Paruk compares China's
rise<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/535/>to
Africa's current state, citing lessons the latter can learn from
China.
Also, after changing its role in UN peacekeeping and adjusting its view of
international intervention in domestic affairs, China's peacekeeping efforts
in Africa are on the
rise.<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/544/>Lastly,
Yang Guang, of
the Institute of West Asian and African Studies of the Chinese Academy of
Social Sciences, says that the U.S. and China "do not have strategic
conflicts" in Africa<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/527/>,
and attempts to justify and explain China's investment relationship to the
continent.

In development news, the importance of using Diaspora remittances for
economic development<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/541/>on
the continent has increased, as the World Bank intends to form
partnerships with organizations and corporations in Africa. Melvin Foote of
the Constituency for Africa stated, "Engaging the Diaspora in providing
technical assistance in Africa may well create the necessary synergy to
transform how development will be pursued on the continent in the future".
Further, the UK has recently announced the doubling of its contribution to
the African Development
Fund<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/528/>of the
African Development Bank (AfDB).
In turn, the AfDB pledges to use the donation to improve economic
integration, invest in infrastructure, and commit to other necessary
development initiatives. The AfDB and the African Minister's Council on
Water (AMCOW) will hold the first ever African Water
Week<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/530/>in
March 2008, under the theme: "Accelerating the Water Security for
Socio-Economic Development of Africa".

Charles Mutasa provides an in-depth analysis of the accountability of
international financial and donor
institutions<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/545/>in
aid delivery. Mutasa acknowledges the role of aid in development, but
proclaims that it must be done in a manner that gives voice to the
recipients and stays clear of furthering the interest of the international
organizations.  Lastly, the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa
(ICA)<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/539/>held
a meeting entitled "Financing Transport for Growth in Africa", which
aimed at "facilitating private sector investment in transport projects
(road, rail, air, maritime and urban), across the continent requiring
financing in the short and medium term".

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA)<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/540/>encourages
the coordination of inter-regional communities before engaging in
agreements with the EU, rather than approaching them individually. Following
a free trade agreement between Southern African nations and the EU, Oxfam
has issued a warning for other African
countries<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/524/>,
stating that rushing to sign the agreements in their current form would "result
in opening up the continent's markets to EU trade 'too fast and too
deeply'".  In other trade news, the East African Community (EAC) signed a
framework agreement as part of the economic partnership agreement (EPA) with
the European Union, in hopes of ensuring that African small farmers have
continued access to EU
markets<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/533/>.
This agreement will drastically reduce tariffs and ensure that African
exporters are not excluded from the market come January 1, 2008. Lastly, as
the East African Community (EAC) develops and
expands<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/531/>its
regional program, its existing partner states are striving to
strengthen
the region and "targets towards the realization of a vastly transformed and
fast modernizing East African region by the year 2010/2015".

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the AU has warned that failure to
address the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in
Sudan<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/532/>could
harm the relative progress achieved thus far. The Council has
requested the AU Commission to support the implementation of the CPA by
opening up liaison offices in Khartoum and Juba, Sudan. In other peace and
security news, though troops have been deployed in the region, the full
deployment of the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in
Darfur (UNAMID) is being
hindered<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/523/>due
to various obstacles and objections presented by the Sudanese
government.

The challenges facing women politicians in
Africa<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/537/>were
addressed at a recent press conference in South Africa. Politicians
told reporters that the shortage of women in political power is attributed
to women lacking the proper resources to compete effectively in politics;
and tradition and culture often stand in their way of upward mobility in the
political arena.

Lastly, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade proposes that a group of African
leaders intervene in the Zimbabwe
crisis<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/526/>with
Britain, much to the dismay of South Africa's Thabo Mbeki, who views
this as "an attempt to diminish his influence in Zimbabwe".



*African Monetary Union*

The AU Monitor is launching its Monthly Discussion Paper series.

Each month we will bring you an original article that we hope will promote
discussion, debate and sharing among the community of citizens and civil
society across Africa committed to the ideals of pan-Africanism and a
people-driven union.

In the first of its kind, this month's paper, written by Professor Mammo
Muchie, examines the necessity for a pan-African monetary union. Professor
Muchie argues for "the creation of a unified African strategy and unified
approach to dealing with the outside donor world by neutralising the poison
of money as honey that donor aid has come to be in Africa."

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/547



*Accountability in Aid Effectiveness*

Charles Mutasa (AFRODAD)—Aid has a critical role to play in the attainment
of the Millennium Development Goals in many developing countries, especially
when it is deployed effectively in an accountable manner as part of a wider
development strategy; it makes a lasting difference in helping people to
lift themselves out of poverty. Of key importance to aid delivery and
management has been the issues of accountability and policy dialogue.

*Read more: *www.aumonitor.org/comments/545**

* *

*China**'s Peacekeeping Mission in Africa*

Chris Alden And Paula Cristina Roque (Business Day)- The dispatching of 135
Chinese peacekeeping troops to the troubled Darfur region last week as part
of the United Nations (UN) and African Union hybrid force highlights the
changing role that China is playing in Africa. Once opposed to any form of
international intervention in the domestic affairs of states, the Chinese
government is becoming an active participant in UN peacekeeping, providing
more than 7500 military observers, engineers, medical teams and other
specialists in support of peace and stability.

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/544
**
**
*Defeating HIV*

In its statement to mark World AIDS day 2007 the Africa Public Health Rights
Alliance "15% Now!" Campaign has called on African governments to meet
Public Health commitments by implementing the Abuja pledge to allocate 15%
or more of annual budgets to health in their 2008 budgets, and in particular
to start funding the African Union Health Strategy, the AU Implementation
Plan on HIV, TB, and Malaria, and the Maputo Plan of Action on Reproductive
and Sexual Health and Rights.

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/543



*AU Monitor Announcement*

Fahamu's AU Monitor initiative is seeking young African journalism
professionals and students for a three week internship to report from the
African Union Summit being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2008.
The internships will be for the period between January 16 to February 6th,
2008. The journalists will be provided training on the African Union and its
organs and will be expected to produce daily reports from the summit
meetings (including pre-summit civil society meetings).

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/542



 *Diaspora Remittances*

 Geoffrey Irungu (Business Daily)- The World Bank plans to tap into diaspora
remittances to fund its proposed $13 billion projects in Africa over the
next three years through a structured fund that will support the continent's
development goals.

*Read more: *www.aumonitor.org/comments/541
**
*COMESA Fault's EU's Plan*

Allan Odhiambo (Business Daily)-Africa's largest regional trading bloc is
rooting for joint negotiations with the European Union on the prickly
subject of development financing, which was left out of the interim pact
that East African Community member states signed in Kampala last week.

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/540



*Infrastructure Consortium for Africa*

(Press Release)-The Infrastructure Consortium for Africa (ICA) will from
December 3-4, 2007 organise a meeting on the theme: *"Financing Transport
for Growth in Africa"*, in Tunis.

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/539



*Challenges to Women's Political Aspirations*

Kwamboka Oyaro (IPS)-The challenges confronting women politicians in Africa
were given an airing recently during a press conference in South Africa's
commercial hub, Johannesburg.

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/537
**
**
*Pan-African Parliament at the Crossroads*

Saki Mpanyane (ISS Today)—The Pan-African Parliament concluded its 8th
Ordinary Session on the 26th October 2007, effectively marking the halfway
point for the institution since its launch in 2004. An important question
that needs to be posed is, given its mandate and the challenges it has
encountered, what is the relevance of the Pan African Parliament (PAP)?

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/536
**
**
*Lessons for Africa from China's Rise*

Farhana Paruk (ISS Today)—China is an enigma. It continues to be a communist
state while at the same time depending on capitalist dynamics to achieve
economic progress and a prosperous society. It is also a land where both
vestiges of an ancient civilization and manifestations of a modern nation
serve to confirm its position as a leading civilization.

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/535
**
**
*AU Observes World Aids Day*

(Press Release)-In order to raise awareness on the impact of HIV/AIDS within
the Continent, the Department of Social Affairs and the Division of
Communication and Information of the African Union Commission (AUC) along
side the UNAIDS, are jointly organising a series of sensitisation campaigns
ahead of the World Aids Day, celebrated every 1st of December.

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/534
**
**
*EPA to "Protect" Small Farmers*

Rosalia Omungo (IPS)-The East African Community signed a framework agreement
as part of the economic partnership agreement (EPA) talks with the European
Union (EU) to ensure continued access to EU markets for African small
farmers, says Juma Mwapachu, secretary general of the East African regional
body.

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/533
**
*Obstacles to Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan*

(PANA)-Failure to address outstanding issues in the implementation of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Government of Sudan and the
Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) could jeopardize the
significant progress achieved so far, the Peace and Security Council (PSC)
of the African Union (AU) has warned.

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/532
**
**
*EAC Day*

Press Release—The EAC Day is being observed against the background of major
developments and expansion of the regional programme, reflecting a serious
determination of the five EAC Partner States (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania,
Rwanda and Burundi) to construct a strong regional bloc. The 3rd East
African Development Strategy (2006-2010), which was launched in November
2006, sets out an ambitious programme and targets towards the realization of
a vastly transformed and fast modernizing East African region by the year
2010/2015.

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/531
**
**
*African Water Week*

Press Release—The first African Water week (AWW-1) will be held in Tunis
from 26-28 March, 2008. The event, to be hosted by the African Ministers'
Council on Water (AMCOW) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), will take
place under the theme "Accelerating the Water Security for Socio-Economic
Development of Africa".

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/530
**
**
*UK** Doubling Contribution to ADF*

Press Release—The United Kingdom announced on Tuesday, 27 November 2007 that
it is doubling its contribution to the 11th replenishment of the African
Development Fund (ADF XI), the first shareholder to do so. The UK
contribution will be £417 million, approximately US$ 863 million, and
effectively twice the amount of its contribution from the previous
replenishment.

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/528
**
**
*China-US: No Strategic Conflict in Africa*

Stephanie Hanson (Council on Foreign Relations)—Yang Guang, director of the
Institute of West Asian and African Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences, says that China and the United States "do not have strategic
conflicts" in Africa.

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/527
**
**
*Wade, Mbeki Clash Over Zimbabwe*

Rangarirai Mberi (Financial Gazette)—Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade is
on a collision course with South Africa's Thabo Mbeki after he proposed to
lead a committee of five African leaders to intervene in the Zimbabwean
crisis and end the country's row with Britain.

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/527
**
**
*Continent Warned About EU Trade Deal*

John Kaninda (Business Day)- LONDON-based charity Oxfam has warned African
countries not to rush into signing the European Union (EU) Economic
Partnership Agreements (EPAs) in their present form as this would result in
opening up the continent's markets to EU trade "too fast and too deeply".

*Read more*: www.aumonitor.org/comments/524
**
**
*Sudan** Hinders UNAMID*

UN News Service—The full and rapid deployment of the hybrid United
Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is in jeopardy
because of a series of objections and obstacles raised by the Sudanese
Government and the lack of offers for crucial force units, senior United
Nations officials warned the Security Council today.

*Read more:* www.aumonitor.org/comments/523




-- 
Selome Araya
Consultant Project Coordinator
AU- Monitor
aumonitor.editor at gmail.com

AU-MONITOR www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/index.php
is an initiative of
Fahamu - Networks for Social Justice
Cape Town, Dakar, Nairobi and Oxford
www.fahamu.org
www.pambazuka.org
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