AU Monitor: Issue 134, 2008
Hakima Abbas
hakima at fahamu.org
Tue Apr 29 22:50:57 BST 2008
AU Monitor: Issue 134, 2008
Headlines – Weekly Roundup – Read More
Headlines
1. Human Rights and Conflict Management
2. Elections in Africa
3. ECOWAS Meeting on Food Crisis
4. PAP Interim Statement on Zimbabwe Elections
5. AU on Zimbabwe Elections
6. Coalition for an Effective African Court
7. AU Must Act on Zimbabwe Now
8. West African Mining Code
9. What Now from SADC?
10. China Supports UN, AU Partnership
11. Media Pilot Schemes
12. Consultative Meeting on Zimbabwe
13. Regional Integration and Poverty Reduction
Weekly Roundup
One month after elections in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission (ZEC) has yet to release the results of the presidential
elections. The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) noted in its interim
statement that “the post-election phase which forms part of the
entire electoral process, including the announcement of results,
remains a concern and needs to be closely monitored" but concluded
that “the environment for holding an election was conducive” and
“generally the voting was conducted in a transparent and efficient
manner”. The African Union (AU) goes further to express “its
satisfaction once more over the success of these elections, which
were conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner” though also
expressing “concern over the delay observed in the announcement of
the results, which creates an atmosphere of tension that is not in
the least conducive to the consolidation of the democratic process
that was so felicitously launched through the organization of the
elections.” Following comments by South African President, and
mediator for the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Thabo
Mbeki that “there is no crisis in Zimbabwe”, the East African Law
Society (EALS) called an emergency pan-African citizen’s consultation
on the situation. Over 200 African civil society organizations
convened in Tanzania and called on the AU “to revoke SADC’s mandate
on Zimbabwe and appoint an independent high level Pan African panel
of mediators” as well as “not to recognize the illegitimate incumbent
government in Zimbabwe until a democratic solution to the crisis is
found”. One of the conveners of the consultation, Don Deya, Director
of the EALS, noted that “when election fraud occurred in Kenya, the
AU acted swiftly and effectively to mediate a settlement. We have the
same situation in Zimbabwe. Why is the AU silent?” Concurrently,
Professor Anyang Nyong'o, a Kenyan minister and member of the
opposition Orange Democratic Movement, called into question the
electoral process throughout Africa for not responding to the wills
and wishes of the people.
While the role of SADC remains uncertain in resolving the situation
in Zimbabwe, the SADC International Consultative Conference on
Poverty and Development was held in Mauritius to engage in policy
dialogue, forge consensus, and review progress of the SADC economic
integration agenda, with emphasis on poverty eradication. Similarly,
the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold an
extraordinary meeting of ministers of trade and industry in early May
to discuss the impact of rising food prices in the region. The
meeting will further review the status of the Economic Partnership
Agreement negotiations with the European Union. As one of the
organizers of Africa’s International Media Summit, ECOWAS has also
agreed to implement three media pilot schemes, in and with the
collaboration of governments of Ghana, Nigeria and Tunisia, to deploy
African youths towards improving the image of the continent as part
of the process of re-branding Africa. Meanwhile, the ECOWAS
Commission has signed an agreement with Cuba to implement a regional
programme on renewable energy. Further, ECOWAS will collaborate with
Oxfam America to create a common mining code for the region “to
facilitate the contribution of civil society in the process of
forming a common mining policy that is favorable to the poor,
respectful of the protection principles of the environment and of
human rights, and that renders the government and the mining
companies responsible through good governance practices.”
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed support for
strengthened coordination and synergy between the United Nations (UN)
and the AU during the UN Security Council high-level meeting on peace
and security in Africa. He stated that: "while maintaining its
authority, the Security Council should give priority to supporting
the African Union’s key role in resolving regional conflicts, and
give full consideration to the views of the African Union."
Ahead of the forthcoming session of the African Commission on Human
and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in Ezulwini, Swaziland, the Centre for
Conflict Resolution (CCR) is hosting a panel discussion on human
rights and conflict management at Ezulwini Sun Hotel on the 5th of
May. The discussion will highlight the linkages between human rights
and conflict prevention and resolution as well as examine the role
that institutions such as the ACHPR, national human rights
institutions and non-governmental organisations play in preventing
conflict and building sustainable peace. The meeting will further
provide an opportunity to introduce CCR’s forthcoming book on
Africa’s Human Rights Architecture. The Coalition for an Effective
African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights will also be holding a
panel discussion at the Royal Swazi Sun on 11th of May which will
consider the relationship between the African Court and the African
Commission and the opportunities for civil society in using the
African human rights system to protect human rights, among other themes.
Read More
Human Rights and Conflict Management
The Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR), based in Cape Town, South
Africa, is hosting a two-hour panel discussion on Human Rights and
Conflict Management at Ezulwini Sun Hotel in Ezulwini, Swaziland,
from 19h00 to 21h00 on 5 May 2008.
Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/1215
Elections in Africa
Haruna Mohammed Yusuf (Daily Trust) -- The electoral process in
Africa is responsible for the failure of democracy to provide its
benefits to the people, Professor Peter Anyang Nyong'o, has said.
Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/1214
ECOWAS Meeting on Food Crisis
Etim Imisim (This Day) -- Regional ministers of trade and industry
are scheduled to hold an extra-ordinary meeting in Abuja, on May 8,
2008, to discuss the spiralling cost of basic food items and its
impact on West Africa.
Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/1213
PAP Interim Statement on Zimbabwe Elections
The Pan African Parliament (PAP) has issued its interim statement on
the Zimbabwe elections which concludes that "generally the voting was
conducted in a transparent and efficient manner" but continues that,
"nonetheless, the post-election phase which forms part of the entire
electoral process, including the announcement of results, remains a
concern and needs to be closely monitored."
Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/1212
AU on Zimbabwe Elections
The African Union has observed and monitored with particular interest
the general elections that were held in Zimbabwe on 29 March 2008. It
expresses its satisfaction once more over the success of these
elections, which were conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner.
Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/1211
Coalition for an Effective African Court
The Coalition for an Effective African Court on Human and Peoples’
Rights (the Coalition) will be holding a panel discussion on the
African Court at the Royal Swazi Sun in Ezulwini, Swaziland on 11 May
2008. The Coalition, which comprises African and international non-
governmental organisations (NGO) working in and on Africa,
individuals and national human rights institutions in Africa, was
formed in Niamey, Niger in May 2003 to advocate for an effective and
efficient African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/1210
AU Must Act on Zimbabwe Now
Press Release—Over 200 African organizations convened to call on the
African Union (AU) to end its silence on Zimbabwe. The strongly
worded statement issued by Africa’s major governance and human rights
groups from 21 countries expressed outrage at the AU’s inaction on
Zimbabwe and its lack of condemnation about the repression, violence
and insecurity since the March 29th election.
Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/1209
West African Mining Code
Press Release -- Oxfam America and the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) agreed on April 4, 2008 to collaborate on
creating a common mining code for all of West Africa. The new code
will help the 15 member countries adhere to uniform standards created
jointly by governments and citizens, and increase protection of human
rights and the environment while promoting investment.
Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/1207
What Now from SADC?
(IRIN) -- South African President Thabo Mbeki has been lampooned and
condemned across the world for saying there is "no crisis" in
Zimbabwe on his brief stopover in the capital, Harare, on the way to
an emergency summit of the Southern African Development Community
(SADC) in Zambia to discuss Zimbabwe’s disputed 29 March elections.
Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/1206
China Supports UN, AU Partnership
(Xinhua) -- China supports the forging of a stable partnership
between the United Nations and the African Union (AU), Chinese Vice
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Wednesday.
Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/1205
Media Pilot Schemes
Press Release -- Organizers of the annual Africa’s International
Media Summit have agreed to implement three pilot schemes that will
deploy the productive energy and creativity of African youths towards
improving the image of the continent as part of the process of
“Rebranding Africa.”
Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/1204
Consultative Meeting on Zimbabwe
The East Africa Law Society (EALS) is calling for an emergency Pan-
African Citizens’ Consultation next week to discuss the Zimbabwe crisis.
Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/1203
Regional Integration and Poverty Reduction
Richard Nyamanhindi (SANF) -- Southern African countries are meeting
in Mauritius this week to discuss concrete strategies to advance
regional integration and poverty eradication.
Read more: www.aumonitor.org/comments/1202
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Hakima Abbas
Policy Analyst, AU-Monitor
Fahamu - Networks for Social Justice
Email: hakima at fahamu.org
Skype: hakima_abbas
www.aumonitor.org
www.fahamu.org
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