SANF 04 no 63
Mozambican President and outgoing chairperson of the African Union (AU) Joaquim Chissano has during his term of office, actively campaigned for efforts to ensure the continent galvanises support to reduce poverty and compete in a global economy.
As the AU holds its 3rd Annual Ordinary Session of the Assembly from 6-8 July in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the summit is discussing the continued search for poverty reduction through ensuring sustainable peace, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the Pan African Parliament (PAP), guidelines for effective election monitoring and observation on the continent, and strategies to combat diseases especially HIV and AIDS.
The discussions are being held within the strategic framework that the AU has developed as a road map for 2004 – 2007.
There is however, need to take stock of progress on the Maputo declaration signed at the summit in Mozambique in July 2003 when President Chissano took over the chair. Among some of the highlights are concerted efforts within the AU’s wider goal to combat poverty, corruption and conflict on the continent.
Ongoing efforts taking over the AU chair culminated in the launch of the organisation’s Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa, headquarters of the pan-African body, on Africa Day, 25 May.
Charged with the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts through both diplomatic and military means, Chissano said the council is “… an efficient tool for the realisation of the African Agenda in issues of prevention, management and resolution of conflict.”
The AU has also recommended the establishment of an African Standby Force (ASF) charged with prevention and resolution of conflicts on the continent in conformity with AU mandates ranging from observer missions to peacekeeping operations and intervention.
During his term, President Chissano visited many African states including Congo Brazaville, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), São Tomé e Príncipe, Burundi, Libya and Liberia to facilitate dialogue on sustainable peace on the continent. Mozambique has also contributed soldiers to peacekeeping missions.
On the DRC, President Chissano has responded to the political disturbances in that country, as part of the troika in charge of the SADC organ on politics, defence and security, Mozambique is part of a fact-finding mission to the DRC to help bring stability and to support efforts to ensure that adopted peace agreements are upheld.
Chissano’s reign also ushered in the launching of the Pan African Parliament in March this year, mandated to spread democracy, prosperity and peace across the continent.
PAP scored a first by electing a woman, Gertrude Mongella of Tanzania, as president. In addition, women hold two of the five top positions in the parliament. The AU has also achieved 50 percent parity in the appointment of the AU commissioners.
The outgoing AU Chairperson has also rallied support for NEPAD, the AU body charged with ensuring economic development. During a UN General Assembly meeting and other international fora, President Chissano urged the international community to channel development support to Africa through NEPAD.
The period under review has also seen the launch of the African Peer Review Mechanism, one of the key AU initiatives through which member states can submit themselves to voluntary peer monitoring and evaluation by member states.
The AU has also initiated discussions on developing a Charter on Elections, Democracy and Governance, to guide electoral processes. At least 10 African countries are scheduled to conduct elections in 2004 and the AU is sending observer missions.
As chairperson of the AU, President Chissano has spearheaded a campaign to ensure sustainable food security through the establishment of an African Agricultural Development Fund as a follow up to AU leaders’ commitments in Maputo in 2003 to allocate at least 10 percent of their national budgets to boost agricultural production.
In line with the AU’s vision to “build an integrated Africa, a prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena”, the strategic framework aims to ensure implementation of activities through total involvement of the people of the continent in the integration process.
The challenge for incoming AU Chairperson, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has taken over from President Chissano at the current summit in Addis Ababa, is to consolidate the institutional framework now in place so that the AU effectively delivers on its mandate.
(SARDC)
