AU Monitor: Issue 112, 2007

Wed Nov 14 22:59:57 GMT 2007

*Issue 112, 2007- Weekly Roundup*

**

This week The AU Monitor launches a special issue of Pambazuka News to
celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the African Commission on Human and
Peoples' Rights. The book, entitled Africa's Long Road to
Rights<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/487/>:
Reflections on the 20th Anniversary of the African Commission on Human and
Peoples' Rights, includes essays that review the achievements of the
commission since its establishment.

In AU news, the United Nations has
pledged<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/474/>to continue
strengthening its partnerships with the African Union and the
New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) by designing effective
strategies and concrete plans. Further, the AU recently held its
second Pan-African
Forum on Children <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/477/> in
Cairo, Egypt. The ministers agreed to begin implementation of the Plan of
Action towards "Africa Fit for Children", Africa's contribution to the UN
General Assembly's Special Session on Children.  The AU/UN peacekeeping
mission in Darfur, UNAMID <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/480/>,
has been further delayed from deployment in the region due to lack of
necessary equipment. The UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon urges Member
States to provide the missing transport and aviation capabilities to the
mission.  Further, the AU and UN envoys to Darfur have praised Libyan leader
Mouammar Kadhafi <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/482/> for his
role in restoring peace in Sudan and his efforts to end the crisis. Also,
the Department of Social Affairs of the AU Commission recently held a
discussion on human security as it relates to Africa's
development<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/479/>
.  Lastly, the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST)
of the AU Commission holds its Third Ordinary session of the African
Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology this
week.<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/481/>

In regional news, the ECOWAS Mediation and Security
Council<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/485/>seeks to
improve the capabilities of armed forces in their ability to
respond to conflicts in the region. The call emerged from a recent Chief of
Defense Staff committee meeting, which urged ECOWAS to improve regional
emergency response and develop a common position on migration. Further, at a
recent press conference, the Presidents of Mozambique and Angola discussed
the issue of whether a country should have more than one membership in Regional
Economic Communities (REC's).<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/476/>

In development-related news, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni highlights
that African professionals<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/484/>have
been increasingly leaving the continent for America and Europe while
billions of dollars are spent towards hiring Western "technically experts"
to work in Africa.  Mr. Musevini stated that for Africa to advance, "it must
tap and utilise the scientific and technological know how and skills of the
African diaspora". Further, two respected elder statesmen speak
towards positive
developments in Africa <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/473/>,
with greater economic growth and political stability in the future. Also, the
High-level African Panel on Modern Biotechnology released a report entitled
Freedom to Innovate: Biotechnology in Africa's
Development<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/483/>,
which outlines concrete and attainable steps to "advance development,
quality of life and environmental sustainability using biotechnology".  Lastly,
The Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences
(<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/486/>CAFS)
has announced its plan to work with NEPAD to develop Africa's fishing
industry and enhance partnerships in aguaculture science.

During a recent meeting with Malawian President Bingu Wa Mutharika, Iranian
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that increasing ties with Africa is
at the top of Iran's foreign
policy<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/478/>.
President Mutharika spoke of agriculture and tourism as suitable grounds for
cooperation with Iranian companies and committed to providing facilities for
these activities in his country.

*Pambazuka News Special Issue: Africa's Long Road to Right's*

Firoze Manji (Pambazuka News)-This week, Pambazuka News launches a special
issue- Africa's Long Road to Rights: Reflections on the 20th anniversary of
the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/487*

* *

*China** and NEPAD*

Kabona Esiara (The New Times)- China has promised to work with the New
Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) to develop the fishing industry
in Africa.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/486*

* *

*ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council*

(PANA)- The ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council has called on member
states to improve the equipment and operational readiness of their armed
forces, so they will be better prepared for deployment to trouble spots in
the region

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/485*

* *

*Continent Losing Human Capital*

Zephania Ubwani (The Nation)- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said Sunday
that Africa has lost one third of its human capital and is continuing to
lose its skilled personnel at an increasing rate.

*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/484*

* *

* *

*Biotechnology for Africa's Development*

Calestous Juma and Ismail Serageldin (Business Daily)- African leaders are
determined to forge a new economic outlook based on science and innovation.
This is reflected in their decision to seek advice from African experts on
the role of biotechnology in Africa's development. The results of the work
of the High-level African Panel on Modern Biotechnology are contained in
Freedom to Innovate: Biotechnology in Africa's Development.
**
*Read more:  www.aumonitor.org/comments/483*

* *

*AU and UN Hail Kadhafi*

(PANA)- The AU and UN envoys to Darfur have hailed Libyan leader Mouammar
Kadhafi for his role in restoring peace to Sudan's western Darfur region,
wracked by four years of conflict that has claimed an estimated 200,000
lives and displaced over 2 million people.
**
*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/482*

* *

*African Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology*

(Press Release)-The Third Ordinary session of the African Ministerial
Conference on Science and Technology (AMCOST III) is scheduled to take place
from the 12-16 November 2007 in Mombassa, Kenya. Organised by the Department
of Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST) of the African Union
Commission, the Conference is aimed at brainstorming on the Africa's Science
and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA) implementation strategy.
**
*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/481*

* *

*UNAMID Delayed Further*

(UN News)- The hybrid United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission to
the war-torn Darfur region (UNAMID) still lacks critical transport and
aviation units and the Sudanese Government has not responded yet to the
UN-AU submission on the force's composition, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
says, warning that delays to deployment will only exacerbate the
humanitarian situation.
**
*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/480*

* *

*AU Holds Discussion on Human Security*

Press Release-The Department of Social Affairs of the African Union
Commission in collaboration with the Japanese Embassy and the International
Federation of Birth Control (IPPF), will today Friday 9 November 2007, hold
a round table discussion on the theme: " Human Security: Addressing the
African Development Agenda" at the headquarters of the African Union in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
**
*Read more:  www.aumonitor.org/comments/479*

* *

*Iran** Aims to Boost Ties with Continent*

(BuaNews)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, says Tehran has the
political will to boost its ties with African countries. Minister Mottaki
who arrived in Malawi on Thursday said bolstering ties with African
countries is among the top priorities of Iran's foreign policy.
**
*Read more:  www.aumonitor.org/comments/478*

*AU Forum Focuses on Children's Plight*

(The Herald)- At least 43 African Union ministers responsible for children
met in Cairo, Egypt to discuss issues affecting children on the continent.
The second Pan African Forum on children was held between October 29 and
November 2 and the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr Edwin
Muguti represented Zimbabwe.
**
*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/477*

**
*Multiple Membership to REC's*

Bayano Valy (SANF)—The Presidents of Mozambique and Angola believe that
southern Africa will eventually resolve the tricky question of multiple
memberships in regional organisations.
**
*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/476*

* *

*UN Partnerships with AU and NEPAD*

(BuaNews)-The United Nations will strive to tie inter-agency collaboration
and partnership with the AU and the NEPAD to support the continent's
development, says UN Deputy Secretary-General Dr Asha-Rose Migiro.
**
*Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/474*

* *

*Bright Future for Africa*

Monkaagedi Gaotlhobogwe (Guardian)-Two of Africa's most respected elder
statesmen, Botswana's former president Ketumile Masire and Mozambican
ex-leader Joaquim Chissano, believe the continent is finally shedding its
reputation as a theatre of conflict and corrupt governance.
**
*Read more:  www.aumonitor.org/comments/473*

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

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