AU Monitor: Issue 110, 2007

Wed Oct 31 08:11:31 GMT 2007

*Issue 110, 2007 – Weekly Roundup*
****
This week's AU Monitor brings news and critical analysis of the African
Union. An editorial from the Africa Agenda criticizes the "Grand Debate on
the African Union" <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/442/> as
failing to look at the challenges facing the formation of a united
continental government or follow through with commitments. The analysis
therefore concluded that " It is up to civil society groups, activists and
other proponents of the Union Government of Africa to work towards the
realisation of Africa's redeeming dream by putting pressure on the African
Union and the Heads of state".  In other AU-related news, a resolution put
forth by leaders from Ghana and South Africa at the International Conference
on Traditional Leaders urges the AU to establish a Forum of African
Traditional Leadership <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/441/> as
an organ of the AU.

In regional news, ECOWAS held its first business
forum<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/438/>in Accra,
Ghana, in an effort to develop strategies for improving regional
business operations and greater regional integration. The intent of the
forum was to devise strategic plans to develop a common market, improve
investment, and address common currency issues. Further, ECOSOCC
elections<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/435/>of civil
society organizations are being held this week in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia.

In peace and security news, the AU/UN Deputy Joint Special Representative
Designate updated the Peace and Security Council on preparations to deploy
the AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur
(UNAMID)<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/434/>.
Further, addressing the pending Darfur peace talks in Lybia, AU
Commission Chairperson
Alpha Oumar Konare <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/436/> urged
all Sudanese parties to "demonstrate the necessary spirit of compromise and
extend full cooperation to the AU and the United Nations."   However, the UN
announced the postponement of the scheduled Darfur
talks<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/439/>for three more
weeks. It is hoped that during this time, more rebel chiefs
will come to the table. In other security news, private military contractors
(PMC's) <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/432/> pledge an attempt
to improve security measures in Africa, something they claim the UN missions
and state militaries have failed to accomplish. In food security news, the
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is encouraging policy-makers to
recognize the benefits of using
biofuel<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/431/>to increase
food security and agricultural production in Africa.

In Pan-African news, at the conclusion of the 4 th meeting of the
Ministerial Bureau of the 5th Pan-African conference in Namibia, African
ministers pledged to improve governance
<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/437/>and public administration
on the continent.  The ministers will present the African Public Service
Charter to the AU, in hopes that it will be used as a standard for all
countries to evaluate efficacy and ensure alignment in public service
matters.   Further, Ochieng' Ogodo reports on the need for 'good laboratory
practice' <http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/433/> in African labs
in order to produce quality data, develop new medical drugs and technology,
and improve product development initiatives.

In economic news*, *a group of German NGO's has taken a public stance against
economic partnership agreements (EPA's),
<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/440/>stating that the trade
negotiations mostly benefit European corporations and harm the economy of
local producers. Lastly, despite his country's long-lasting colonial ties in
Africa, French President Nicolas Sarkozy's announced his attempts of
"normalizing"
France's relationship with
Africa<http://www.pambazuka.org/aumonitor/comments/430/>;
however, it was acknowledged that there must first be a recognized shared
interest in order for France to gain support in this initiative.

* *

* *
*The Grand Debate That Wasn't*
**
Africa Agenda (vol 10#3), Editorial - Third World Network

The Africa Union Summit in Accra, Ghana, was touted as a meeting that would
determine the way forward for the Union Government of Africa. In the end it
wound up just like it did some four decades ago when there was the call for
a gradual process towards a united government of Africa. So forty odd years
on, with the stark reality that a 'disunited' Africa is one of the major
factors responsible for the dire socio-economic and political situation
majority of African countries find themselves in we have not really moved
much since the 1960s.
**
*Read more:*
*www.aumonitor.org/comments/442*

* *
* *
***AU Urged to Include Traditional Healers*

* *

Chris Khumalo (BuaNews)-South Africa and Ghana have co-sponsored a special
resolution seeking to put the issue of traditional leaders on the agenda of
the African Union's multi-lateral institutions.
**
*Read more: *
*www.aumonitor.org/comments/441*

* *
**
*German Organizations Oppose EPA's*

Julio Godoy (IPS) - The economic partnership agreements (EPAs), proposed by
the European Union (EU) to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries,
constitute a "neo-colonial instrument" which will destroy the economic and
social basis in African states, according to some German non-governmental
organisations.
**
*Read more: *
*www.aumonitor.org/comments/440*

* *
**
*Sudan** Peace Talks Postponed*

Scott Baldauf (Christian Science Monitor)- Darfur's "moment of truth," it
seems, will have to wait. With two of the larger rebel factions boycotting
this weekend's UN-negotiated talks in Sirte, Libya, with Sudan continuing to
delay deployment of the larger 26,000-strong African Union peacekeeping
force, and with battles spreading out of Darfur into the oil-rich region of
Kordofan, UN chief mediator Jan Eliasson called for the talks to be
postponed for three weeks.
**
*Read more: *
*www.aumonitor.org/comments/439*

*  *
**
*ECOWAS Business Forum*

(PANA) - The first ECOWAS business forum, which will bring together private
sector operators and other stakeholders of the West African business
community, is scheduled to open in Accra, Ghana, Monday, an ECOWAS statement
said.
**
*Read more: *
*www.aumonitor.org/comments/438 *

*  *
**
*Governance Pledge*

(BuaNews)—African Ministers have pledged to take solidified and collective
actions to strengthen the state of governance and public administration on
the continent .
**
*Read more: *
*www.aumonitor.org/comments/437*

* *
**
*Konare on Darfur*

PANA—African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare has
appealed for a constructive participation of representatives of the people
of Sudan's western Darfur region in the peace talks opening Saturday in
Sirte, Libya.
**
*Read more: *
*www.aumonitor.org/comments/436*

*  *
**
*ECOSOCC Elections*

Election of continental civil society representatives to the Economic,
Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) General Assembly will be held on the
31 October 2007 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
**
*Read more: *
*www.aumonitor.org/comments/435*
**
**
*Status of UNAMID***

Press Release—The Peace and Security Council, at its 96th meeting, held on
23 October 2007, was briefed by the Commission and the AU/UN Deputy Joint
Special Representative Designate in Sudan on the status of implementation of
the AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).
**
*Read more: *
*www.aumonitor.org/comments /434 <http://www.aumonitor.org/comments%20/434>*

* *
**
*Lab Practice 'Not Up to Scratch' in Africa*

Ochieng' Ogodo (AllAfrica.com )- A lack of sound laboratory practices is
hindering Africa's ability to develop new drugs and medical technology to
combat disease, says a Kenyan scientist.
**
*Read more: *
*www.aumonitor.org/comments/433*

* *
**
*Private Military Contractors*

IRIN—Private military contractors (PMCs) are seeking to play a greater role
in peacekeeping in Africa to make up for what they claim to be the inability
of UN missions and state militaries to ensure the continent's security and
humanitarian development.
**
*Read more: *
*www.aumonitor.org/comments/432*

* *
**
*Biofuel and Food Security*

IRIN - As oil prices soar and biofuel production becomes more attractive,
especially to poor countries, a debate is raging over its possible impact on
food security.
**
*Read more: *
*www.aumonitor.org/comments/431*

*  *
**
*France** in Africa*

Greg Mills (Business Day)—Veteran French mercenary "Colonel" Bob Denard's
death this week signals more than the end of an era when soldiers of fortune
believed postcolonial Africa to be their playground. It also comes at a
moment when French foreign policy towards Africa is striking out in a fresh,
more positive direction. Indeed, French President Nicolas Sarkozy's speech
to students in Senegal this July offered an early, if controversial,
indication of change in his government's Africa policy. The first part of
his address identified the wrongs committed by France in Africa. Then he
made comment on what was wrong with Africa. **
**
*Read more: *
*www.aumonitor.org/comments/430*

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

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