Addis Ababa - For the next few days, the focus of the global community will be on Africa, as the continent’s political leaders gather in Ethiopia for the 22nd Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly.
While food security is supposed to top the agenda of the meeting, which begins in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Thursday, observers believe the political instability in South Sudan and the Central African Republic may overshadow the two-day meeting.
The AU last week reportedly welcomed the agreement reached by the warring South Sudanese parties, and the cessation of hostilities and the status of detainees. The agreement, aimed at ending the weeks of fighting which left thousands dead and displaced, was reached during talks between the South Sudanese government and rebels loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar in Addis Ababa.
During the summit, President Jacob Zuma - who arrived here on Tuesday accompanied by at least five of his Cabinet ministers - is expected to participate in a meeting where African Heads of State and Government will exchange views on the reports of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) and UN Reforms.
The leaders will assess progress made on infrastructure development on the continent. In July 2010, African leaders launched a new programme for infrastructure development in Africa (PIDA). Led by the AU, Nepad and African Development Bank, the initiative has a budget of several billion dollars.
After successfully hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, South Africa was tasked by the AU to spearhead infrastructure initiatives throughout the continent and Zuma was unanimously elected PIDA’s president.
At the time, Zuma said without infrastructure, “our dreams will never be realised. We cannot trade on the continent because of the lack of communication. The infrastructure that we want to create will provide new opportunities for our continent".
Wednesday’s Nepad meeting brings together about 20 Heads of State and Government, with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) being represented at the meeting by South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia.
Turning point for Africa
African Union Commissioner Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma opened the gathering this morning by saying the last decade had seen Africa’s turning point. She said Africa had turned the corner in addressing some of its social ills, including poverty and the spread of diseases.
The AU needs to build on the gains that the continental body has made in the past 50 years, said the commissioner, adding that there was a need to focus on the development of women in agriculture and agro processing industries across the continent.
“But there is a need for a paradigm shift so we can move faster in dealing with our priorities. We must ensure that women have access to more land capital, seeds and water and other infrastructure,” she said.
The heads of state will also consider the report of Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, and Coordinator of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), which will include among others, the outcome of climate change negotiations at the 19th Conference of Parties (COP 19).
On Thursday, the 22nd summit will launch 2014 as the Year of Agriculture and Food Security, marking the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
The leaders will also consider the report on the assessment of the African Standby Force (ASF) and the implementation of the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC) initiative.
South Africa spearheaded the ACIRC initiative, which aims to provide a proactive response to crises in the continent while the continent was awaiting a permanent standby force.
Buoyed by the support the ACIRC plan received during a meeting in South Africa late last year, Zuma is expected to lobby for the endorsement of the initiative at the next AU summit to be held in July. – SAnews.gov.za
