[AU-Monitor] AU gets a thumbs up for adopting democracy charter

[AU-Monitor Analyst/Editor]

*(Addis Ababa, 31 January 2007)* -- Civil Society Organisations and MDG
campaigners welcomed the adoption of the African Charter on Democracy,
Elections and Governance, but call for greater urgency in protecting
citizens and ensuring their effective participation in the affairs of the
Union.

While the adoption of the democracy charter indicates AU member states'
commitment to democratic governance, there is urgent need to strengthen
implementation of AU standards.  This will require effective arrangements at
the national, sub-regional and continental levels that ensure adherence and
enforcement. *"With more than 15 countries undergoing parliamentary or
presidential elections in 2007, three of them being among the continent's
biggest economies including Angola, Kenya and Nigeria, the immediate
importance of a continental Democracy Charter is clear"* says Ozias
Tungwarara Director of AfriMAP. "These member-states should be in the
forefront of moves to ratify the Charter," he continues. The civil
organisations committed to popularise the Democracy Charter in their
respective countries.

However, civil society organisations also expressed their regret that the
charter itself was developed without much opportunity for African citizens
or civil society to contribute to and strengthen its content.

With 350 people dead and tens of thousands displaced in the month of this
Summit, the urgency to act in Darfur, Sudan to bring an immediate halt to
attacks on citizens is paramount. *"Like Khartoum, this Summit closed
without strong enough pressure on all parties to cease attacks on civilians.
A quick strong AU- UN force will be a giant step in the right direction, but
the men and women and children of Darfur need to be safe from attacks now,
not three or six months away"* says Désiré Assogbavi Pan Africa Senior
Policy analyst at Oxfam.

The launch of the International Year of African football and the 50th
anniversary of the International Confederation of African football was also
major focus of the Summit. Less prominent was 2007 being the mid-point of
the 2015 target set for the achievement of the UN Millennium Development
Goals. The need for a year of increased political commitment backed up by
public financing by African Governments is perhaps clearer for the
continent's poor.

By the Summit's own admission, 27% of Africa's men, women and children are
undernourished and reliant on agricultural imports and food relief. AIDS,
malaria and tuberculosis threaten life on a scale unparalleled, erases
between 1-2% of Africa's growth rate and reduces life expectancy by 25% for
some countries. Yet, less than five countries are close to meeting the Abuja
Commitment to allocate 15% of the national budget to health services and
only three countries have met or exceeded the Sirte Commitment to allocate
10% of their budgets to agriculture.

*"If 2007 is the International year of African football, then failure to
publicly finance the Millennium Declaration Goals, will result in several
own goals across the continent. Civil Society and Governments must review
Africa's progress towards meeting the MDGs in the July Summit. They must
report to their own citizens before rushing to the UN General Assembly in
September.** **We do not need excuses; we want concrete actions "* says Dr.
Tajudeen Abdul-Rahim, Director for Africa for the United Nations Millennium
Campaign.


---Ends---

*Notes:*
*The African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance includes;*
A broader definition of what constitutes unconstitutional changes of
Government to include attempts to revise constitutions, which infringe on
the principles of democratic change alongside coups, mercenary interventions
and armed insurrection.
1.        Clear sanctions that include suspension from the Union,
prohibition on leaders who have come to power by unconstitutionally from
being able to take part in elections, trial before an African Court,
economic sanctions and extradition.
2.        A commitment to develop strong partnerships with Civil Society
Organisations, participatory political systems and free basic education.
3.        Twenty countries including Angola, Algeria, Kenya, Nigeria, Gambia,
Mali, Algeria, Congo Brazzaville, Sierra Leone, Morocco, Seychelles
and Togowill undergo elections in 2007.

*Situation in Darfur and Chad has never been worse, with;*
1.        250,000 Darfurians newly displaced since the signing of the Darfur
Peace Agreement in May 2006
2.        The number of displaced  in Chad has tripled in recent months to
over 100,000 as the conflict has become regionalised.
3.        Humanitarian agencies facing unprecedented difficulties accessing
the millions of people in need of assistance.
4.        Oxfam being forced to evacuate staff from Gereida, the largest
camp in Darfur where we assist 130,000 displaced people. Other Oxfam
programmes are regularly inaccessible due to the rising threat of vehicle
hijackings.
5.        According to the UN, 118 humanitarian vehicles were hijacked
during 2006 (29 in December alone). Hijackings have also risen in Chad, with
50 incidents in the past 12 months.

*For more information & interview requests please contact: *
·  Nairobi:  Beatrice Karanja on +254-733632810, *bkaranja at oxfam.org.uk*
·  Dakar  : Ismaila Dieng  + 221  865 13 00
· Johannesburg: Caroline Hooper-Box, +27-824603184, *chooperbox at oxfam.org.uk
*




-- 
Gichinga Ndirangu
Consultant Policy Analyst / Editor
AU- Monitor
aumonitor.editor at gmail.com

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