AU Monitor: Issue 111, 2007

Wed Nov 7 12:04:46 GMT 2007

*Issue 111, 2007- Weekly Roundup*

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This week's AU Monitor brings you updates from the African Union. During the
Pan-African Parliament's (PAP) Eighth Ordinary
Session,<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/459/>members
discussed the need for increased citizen involvement in
international affairs, especially within the United Nations. Further, the
PAP held motions on financial
matters<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/AUMONITOR/comments/458/>,
following speculation of misappropriation of funds and mismanagement. UN
Deputy Secretary-General Migiro met with AU and
NEPAD<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/465/>officials in
Ethiopia for consultation on various issues. Also, AU
Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare delivered opening remarks at the
Inter- Sudanese Peace Talks on
Darfur<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/463/>in Lybia,
encouraging leaders that there is no other choice but to make
peace. ECOSOCC held it first General
Assembly<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/472/>,
electing eight African Civil Society organizations to its Council.  Lastly, The
African Commission on Human and People's
Rights<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/452/>is holding its
42
nd Ordinary Session in the Republic of Congo-Brazaville from November 14-28
th.

In youth-related news, African
youth<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/470/>are being urged
to remain in Africa after completing school instead of going
abroad to live and work, to play an integral role in developing their
homeland instead of "selling their souls". Further, November 1 marked the
first African Youth Day <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/451/>,
an extension of the African Youth Charter, created to enhance the
partnership between youth and public authorities towards the development of
the continent.

In African Diaspora news, Activists Danny Glover and Nicole Lee
advocate to stop
the US Africom Command's
(Africom)<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/471/>plans to
establish permanent military bases in Africa, which will increase
dependency on outside forces, inhibit Africa from devising its own solutions
to its security problems, and further destabilize regions. Further, Ugandan
President Musevini urged members of the U.S. Congressional Black
Caucus<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/462/>to "support
the African development cause by supporting pro-African policies and
programmes in the US Congress", while reminding them that Africa is their
homeland.

In Asia-Africa news, India recently hosted the India-Africa Hydrocarbon
conference <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/469/> to increase
partnerships and opportunities between the two regions in the hydrocarbon
sector. Further, efforts are being made to increase the AU's role in
business relations between Africa and
China<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/468/>,
ensuring that Chinese business decisions are made in the best interest of
the African people. Lastly, Chinese Acting Ambassador to Rwanda, Wang Xinm
Li, insists that China's presence in Africa is meant to improve living
standards <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/464/> for Africans,
not to merely extract resources from the continent.

In technology related news, the Euro-Africa Information and Communication
Technologies (ICT) Strategic
Partnership<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/456/>seeks to
strengthen science and technology cooperation between the two
continents. Further, at the recent Connect Africa conference, investments
were pledged to further develop Africa's ICT
sector<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/455/>in order to
facilitate economic growth in the region.

In trade news, The South African Development
Company<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/457/>reports on
plans to develop infrastructure in the region that "ensures
the availability of an integrated, efficient and cost-effective system to
sustain regional economic development and trade". Further, Russia's new
trade agreements <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/454/> will
allow African imports to be tax-free in hopes of increasing opportunities
amongst Russian-African trade. Lastly, economic partnership agreements
(EPA's) continue to be
criticized<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/453/>,
for their potential to destroy Africa's economic progress and "do little for
its political self-determination".

**
*Results of ECOSOCC Elections *

Press Release—Eight African Organisations of the Civil Society have been
elected as members of the Economic Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC).  The
elections took place on Wednesday 31st October 2007, during the First
ECOSOCC General Assembly at the headquarters of the African Union Commission
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
**
*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/472*

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**
*Say No to Africom*

Danny Glover & Nicole C. Lee (The Nation)—With little scrutiny from
Democrats in Congress and nary a whimper of protest from the liberal
establishment, the United States will soon establish permanent military
bases in sub-Saharan Africa. An alarming step forward in the militarization
of the African continent, the US Africa Command (Africom) will oversee all
US military and security interests throughout the region, excluding Egypt.
Africom is set to launch by September 2008 and the Senate recently confirmed
Gen. William "Kip" Ward as its first commander.
**
*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/471*
**
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*Ambassador Urges African Youths to Remain Patriotic*

(The Herald)-African youths play a critical role in the development of the
continent and should remain patriotic. This was said by the Dean of the
Diplomatic Corps in Zimbabwe Ambassador Mawampanga Mwanananga of the DRC at
a luncheon dialogue held to mark the African Youth Day in Harare last week.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/470*

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*India-Africa Energy Conference*

(BuaNews)-India is hosting the two-day India-Africa Hydrocarbon Conference,
from Tuesday, set to bring about 25 Africa states closer to their Indian
counterparts in the oil and gas sector.
**
*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/469*

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**
*Is Beijing seeking to be Africa's 'colonial power?'*

Francis Ayieko (the EastAfrican)—The African Union will co-ordinate and
guide Africa's regional economic communities and member states in coming up
with a multilateral approach to doing business with the main emerging world
powers such as China, India and Brazil.
**
*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/468*

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*UN Deputy Secretary General to Meet AU*

UN News—Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro is heading to Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia, where she will be participating in a regional meeting between the
United Nations, the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's
Development (NEPAD).

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/465*

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*China** Defends Its Presence in Continent *

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Magnus K Mazimpaka And Ignatius Ssuuna (The New Times)—A Chinese Diplomat
has defended his country's increasing presence in Africa. The Chinese Acting
Ambassador to Rwanda, Wang Xinm Li said China is not motivated by the
continent's resources but sincere support."Our friends will continue making
noise but this will not stop us from supporting African states and improving
people's standards of living," he said.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/464*

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*The Winds of Peace*

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Opening remarks by Professor Alpha Oumar Konare, Chairperson of the African
Union Commission, at the Inter- Sudanese Peace Talks on Darfur, delivered in
Sirte, Libya on Saturday 27 October 2007.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/463*

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*U.S.** Black Caucus Asked to Support Africa*

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Grace Matsiko (Monitor)- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has called for a
public-private partnership in the fight against HIV/Aids, a statement issued
by the Whitaker Goup said on Friday. The President, who returned from his
official visit to the US at the end of the week, made his call while meeting
over 130 representatives of the African Diplomatic Corps, healthcare
industry people and senior US government officials in Washington at a
breakfast on Wednesday, October 31.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/462*

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*PAP Motions*

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Press Release—The Pan African Parliament (PAP) today in a sitting presided
over by the Second Vice-President, Hon. Prof. Mohamed Lutfi Farhat from
Libya, debated five (5) Motions tabled by MPs during this Eighth Ordinary
Session.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/459*

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*PAP Monetary and Financial Affairs Committee*

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Hailu Teklehaimanot—The Pan African Parliament (PAP) today started its
discussion of financial matters as per the house's decision to give priority
to the matter following a motion brought by Hon. Boudina, MP from Algeria.

The PAP and its membership had been caught in speculation of a crisis,
misappropriation of funds and mismanagement after the decision of the Accra
African Union Summit. Thus, the report of the financial committee has been
awaited eagerly by all Members.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/458*

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*
Southern Region Infrastructure Development *

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Joseph Ngwawi (SADC Today)- States are scaling up the provision of regional
infrastructure, a critical foundation for the speedy realization of regional
integration objectives.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/457*

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*Euro-Africa ICT Partnership*

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Remmy Nweke (HANA)- The European Union has set aside a total sum of
9.1billion Euros for funding of Information and Communication
Technology
(ICT)-based research on the continent through the EuroAfrica-ICT Strategic
Partnership.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/456*

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*
**Bridging the Digital Divide*

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IRIN—More than US$50 billion of largely private sector investment has been
pledged to develop Africa's burgeoning information and communication
technology (ICT) sector at a summit attended by African heads of state and
more than 1,000 representatives from the industry.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/455*

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*Russia** Opens Market to Africa*

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Kester Kenn Klomegah (IPS)—Africans looking to do business in Russia's
burgeoning market can now export goods under new preferential trade
agreements.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/454*

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*Development or Exploitation?*

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Sue Scott (IPS)—Europe's paternal trading relationship with African states
threatens to end in an almighty family fall-out if they fail to sign the
economic partnership agreements (EPAs) by the end-of-year deadline.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/453*

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*African Commission on Human and People's Rights*

The 42nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People's
Rights will be held November 14-28, 2007, in the Republic of
Congo-Brazzaville.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/452*

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*African Youth Day 2007*

Message from H.E. Prof Alpha Oumar Konare, Chairperson of the African Union
Commission on the Commemoration of the African Youth Day 2007 under the
theme "Partnership between the Youth and public authiorities".

"I convey my sincere congratulations and my best wishes for Success, Health,
Peace and Prosperity to all African Youth within the continent and the
Diaspora, on this memorable day of 1st November 2007, a day our youths are
celebrating the African Youth Day.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/451*

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

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