[AU-Monitor] Countdown Calendar Updated and more

[Hakima Abbas]

COUNTDOWN CALENDAR UPDATED!

Please visit the civil society and AU Summit calendar.

All civil society and African Union meetings and events will be  
regularly updated before and during the 9th Ordinary Session of the  
Assembly of the African Union in Accra, Ghana.  Details of each event  
will appear on your screen as you click the title of the event.

To add events or meetings to the calendar, please email  
hakima at fahamu.org.


CIDO Pre-Summit Civil Society Forum Programme Now Available

The draft programme for the African Citizens Directorate (CIDO) Pre- 
Summit Civil Society Forum in Accra, Ghana on the 19th -21st June  
2007 is attached.  The Programme can also be downloaded at  
www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor. 
Peoples’ Voices in the Grand Debate: CSO and Citizen Interviews on  
the Proposal for a Union Government

Saloman Kebede interviewed several African civil society leaders and  
citizens about the “Grand Debate on the Union Government” to be  
held at the June 2007 summit of the African Union.  The following  
interviews of George Adhanja of the Kenya Naitonal Council of NGOs  
and Bougouma Diagne of the Cultural Association For Social &  
Educational Self-Promotion in Senegal are part of a series of  
interviews, published in AU-Monitor, of African citizens and civil  
society leaders on the AU proposal for Continental Government. The  
interviews were conducted by the Pan Africa Programme of Oxfam in the  
corridors of a civil society meeting organized by UN-CONGO and FEMNET  
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the week of the 13 March 2007. Emily  
Mghanga of Oxfam’s Pan Africa Programme edited this interview. These  
interviews are also available at www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor.  Please  
send comments to aumonitor.editor at gmail.com.


Interview with George Adhanja, The Kenya National Council of NGOs

Salomon Kebede: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the current  
proposal?

George Adhanja: If the heads of states continue to meet and work  
together in one spirit then this strengthens the proposal. However,  
the relationship that still exists between countries across this  
continent is challenged by dishonesty and mistrust. This may weaken  
this proposal and in the end, hamper the success of a Continental Union.

Salomon Kebede: Should it be adopted in Accra in July 2007, what  
would you like to see the African Union Commission achieve within the  
first phase (2007-2009)?

George Adhanja: The AU Commission should bring an end to civil wars  
in Africa.

Salomon Kebede: And why would this form of continental Union be  
important to African citizens & particular the poor and marginalized?

George Adhanja: African citizens will enjoy free movement and free  
trade across the continent that will be of great benefit to the poor  
and marginalized in particular. We need to see a unity that will  
uphold and respect citizen rights.

Salomon Kebede: How could states and non-states ensure that  
continental Union efforts are transparent, participatory and driven  
by an appreciation of political and economic rights?

George Adhanja: Let the member states become the engine that will run  
the continental Government devoid of western influence. The only way  
we will move forward in a Union Government, is by focusing entirely  
in doing what is right for the African people.

Salomon Kebede: What obstacles must the AU overcome for the  
continental Union to be successful?

George Adhanja: We must be financially independent in order to be  
self –reliant and stop depending on the west.

Salomon Kebede: In what policy area, would you like to see greater  
convergence and unity across Africa and why?

George Adhanja: I strongly would advocate for free trade and free  
movement. Without these, there is no need for Africans to unite.

Salomon Kebede: Do you have anything that you would like to add?
George Adhanja: Yes. Let us have a Union that respects civil society.  
It is fundamental for the civil society to be given more room to  
engage without discrimination as seen in some countries.


The views expressed here are the perspectives of the interviewee.  
George Adhanja can be reached by email at admin at ngocouncil.org

Popularise the Union, It’s time has come.

Interview with Bougouma Diagne, Cultural Association For Social &  
Educational Self-Promotion, Senegal.


Salomon Kebede: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the current  
proposal?

Bougouma Diagne: The current essence of the proposal is that if we  
unite, we become stronger and will realise the same objectives and  
goals. A weak point to note is that many African countries are  
dependant and in-directly controlled by stronger economies in Asia,  
North America and Europe.

Salomon Kebede: Should it be adopted in Accra in July 2007, what  
would you like to see the African Union Commission achieve within the  
first phase (2007-2009)?

Bougouma Diagne: The African Union Commission should first popularize  
that decision across the continent in order to involve all citizens  
in the process.

Salomon Kebede: Why would this form of continental union be important  
to African citizens & particular the poor and marginalized?

Bougouma Diagne: The AU Commission has to create ways of African  
citizens to participate. It is most acceptable to have organs that  
ignore or unaccountable to public opinion.

Salomon Kebede: How could states and non-states ensure that  
continental union efforts are transparent, participatory and driven  
by an appreciation of political and economic rights?

Bougouma Diagne: The main objective should be to implement the AU  
charter and particularly sections that safeguard the rights of  
people. This will ensure citizen involvement in the AU agenda. That  
way we can be sure that people will have an interest in continental  
union.

Salomon Kebede: What obstacles must the AU overcome for the  
continental union to be successful?

Bougouma Diagne: The AU has to take cultural diversity into  
consideration and plan so that we are all accommodated. This will  
bring harmony and acceptance from all citizens in the continent.

Salomon Kebede: In what policy area, would you like to see greater  
convergence and unity across Africa and why?

Bougouma Diagne: Education is the main problem in Africa, because an  
illiterate society is undermined in many ways.

The views expressed here are the perspectives of the interviewee.  
Bougouma Diagne can be reached by email: capes at sentoo.sn/acapes at  
acapes.org








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