S Van der Merwe: Briefing of Heads of Mission on African Union Summit
outcomes

16 July 2007

Your Excellencies

Thank you for responding to our invitation to address you on the outcomes of
the ninth African Union (AU) Summit that was held in Ghana this year under the
theme: Grand debate on the union government.

African leaders chose this theme because of their unanimous desire for our
continent to move rapidly towards the improvement of the human condition
experienced by all our people informed by the belief that this can best be
achieved through unity.

This theme is a clear testimony of the progress and growth that the African
Union is making as the Premier Continental Organisation to realise the vision
of the rebirth of Africa.

It is also testimony of the commitment of our leaders to the goal of an
African continent that is prosperous, peaceful, democratic, non-racial,
non-sexist and united and which contributes to a world that is just and
equitable.

At my last briefing, we were very upbeat in reporting on the good progress
made with regards to the vision we have set for ourselves, of the idea that
Africans could come together as a united federation of nations and states.

These ideas were captured most notably in the words of Kwame Nkrumah when he
said, "We must endeavour to eradicate quickly the forces that have kept us
apart. The best means of doing so is to begin to create a larger and
all-embracing loyalty which will hold Africa together as a united people with
one government and one destiny."

We have long realised that our strength lies in our unity and it was thus
proper that on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the independence of one
of the first African countries to achieve its freedom from colonialism, Ghana,
that the ninth ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and
Government of the AU was held under the theme 'Grand Debate on the Union
Government', in Accra, Ghana from 1 to 3 July 2007.

The Summit was preceded as is custom, by the meeting of the Permanent
Representatives Council (PRC) on 25 to 26 June and that of the Executive
Council on 28 to 29 June respectively. The PRC considered administrative and
financial matters, legal and institutional matters, political, economic, social
and cultural matters while the Executive Council adopted a number of decisions
and considered a number of reports including those of the Chairperson of the AU
Commission and that of the PRC.

For its part, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government met from 1 to 3
July and devoted its time to the Grand debate on the union government with a
view to providing a clear vision for the future of the AU and the framework for
continental integration. I will deal with these issues in some depth and with
the assistance of officials from the department provide further elaboration
during the questions and answer session.

The grand debate on the union government

Your Excellencies, I think we can all agree that the notion of a United
States of Africa has evoked within us a keen sense of inquisitiveness. By its
very nature it has stimulated a sense of wonder about its nature and for some
even a wait and see attitude as to what we as Africans hope to achieve.

What the Assembly of Heads of State and Government sought to realise during
the most recent summit in Accra, was to give concrete expression to this vision
by adopting the outcomes of the 10th extraordinary session of the Executive
Council and the brainstorming session of foreign affairs ministers on the union
government that took place in Durban, South Africa, from 8 to 10 May 2007.

At the Summit in Ghana, the Assembly adopted the Accra Declaration on the
union government, which reiterated the conviction of the United States of
Africa, with a union government as the ultimate objective of the African Union.
The Heads of State and government reiterated the need for common responses to
the major challenges of globalisation facing the continent, as well as the need
to boost regional integration processes through effective continental
mechanism.

Through the Declaration, the Assembly agreed to accelerate the economic and
political integration of the continent, including the formation of a union
government for Africa, with the ultimate objective of creating the United
States for Africa.

With regards to the specific modalities for attaining this objective, the
Assembly agreed on the following steps:
1. To rationalise and strengthen the Regional Economic Communities and
harmonise their activities, with a view to the creation of an African Common
Market, within a reviewed shorter timeframe;
2. To conduct immediately, an audit of the Executive Council, the Commission
and other organs of the African Union; based on the terms of reference adopted
at the Zimbali Brainstorming Session of AU foreign ministers;
3. To establish a Ministerial Committee charged with the following
functions:

* Identification of the contents of the Union Government concept and its
relations with national governments
* Identification of domains of competence and the impact of the establishment
of the union government on the sovereignty of Member States
* Definition of the relationship between the Union Government and the Regional
Economic Communities (RECs)
* Elaboration of the roadmap, together with timeframes, for establishing the
Union Government and
* Identification of additional sources of financing the activities of the
African Union.

Relationship between the Union Government and the Regional Economic
communities

You will recall, Your Excellencies, that during last year's briefing we
mentioned the important role assigned to the Regional Economic Communities
(RECs) with regards to supporting the agenda of the AU towards African Unity.
Towards this end, the AU called for the rationalisation of the RECs, which was
the focus of its seventh summit in July last year. Following on this, the Accra
Assembly adopted the protocol on relations between the African Union and the
Regional Economic communities. This protocol was originally finalised in 2005
and is intended to facilitate the harmonisation of policies and ensure
compliance with the Abuja Treaty and Lagos Plan of Action time frames.

The Assembly therefore affirmed the integration process as envisaged in the
Abuja Treaty, based on Regional Economic communities, working towards common
African market within shorter timeframes.

A decision was also taken with regards to the report on the status of
Organisation of African Unity/African Union (OAU/AU) treaties. The Commission
was requested to implement its previous decision of reviewing OAU/AU treaties
that have not entered into force. Member States were also requested to submit
to the Commission their ratification/accession procedures.

Finally, the Commission was requested to resolve inconsistencies in
linguistic texts and to appoint an Arabic speaking legal expert to assist.

The outcome of the audit and the work of the Ministerial Committee will be
submitted to the Executive Council, to make appropriate recommendations to the
next ordinary session of the Assembly.

Already, within this month, ministers responsible for integration will meet
in Kigali, Rwanda to further guide and give impetus to the need to rationalise
and harmonise Regional Economic Integration and to ensure that the building
blocks are strengthened to enable us to achieve the African common market in
shorter timeframes.

The Assembly also agreed on the importance of involving the African peoples,
including Africans in the Diaspora, in the process leading to the formation of
the Union Government.

Regarding the Diaspora, you will recall that the African Union took a
decision in January 2006 that South Africa should host the global
Africa-African Diaspora Summit, scheduled for 2008. The proposed theme of this
Summit is: "Towards the realisation of a United and Integrated Africa and its
Diaspora" and the aim is to produce a shared vision of sustainable development
for both the African continent and the Diaspora.

The Preparatory meetings have already started in South Africa, London,
Brazil and New York. Further meetings will take place in the Bahamas, in Paris
and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.

The Ministerial Conference will take place in November this year in Gauteng
followed by a Global Summit of the African Diaspora Heads of State and
Government in 2008. There will be a civil society component as well.

The effort by our country on behalf of the United Nation is a part of our
own contribution to rekindle the flames of solidarity, inspired by the
establishment of the first black republic in Haiti. As part of our ongoing
engagements with CARICOM, the AU and the United Nation, we will continue to
monitor political developments in Haiti.

South Africa's African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Report

Your Excellencies, allow me to remind this forum that at a meeting of the
APR Panel and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) Steering
Committee on 29 June 2007 in Accra, concern was raised regarding the slow pace
of the peer review process. This was attributed to the unfulfilled funding
promises of some of the Group of Eight (G8) countries. To this end South Africa
and Nigeria emphasised the importance of sourcing funding from donor partners
but reiterated the imperative of upholding the Heads of State and Government
Implementation Committee decision to continue to provide the core funding for
the African Peer Review Process.

Of the twenty countries that have acceded to the APRM, thirteen have been
engaged in the peer review process. Of these, five countries have completed the
process.

The Panel agreed that a brainstorming session to reflect on the lessons
learnt is necessary and a decision was taken to have such a session in Algiers
towards the end of October 2007 to coincide with the ninth African Peer Forum
in Algiers.

As you are aware, South Africa's Peer Review Report was discussed during the
Summit and amongst others, the following recommendations were made:

* that South Africa should give greater attention to accelerating the pace
of land reform and should step up the fight against racism and crime; and
* that there is a need to strengthen the integrated and holistic approach to
combating HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria plus other communicable
diseases.

South Africa has noted the concerns raised in the report and will endeavour
to address the recommendations made by the African Peer Review Panel through
the Programme of Action containing actions to deal with challenges
identified.

As President Mbeki noted on the outcomes of our report, "we must feel
inspired that, among other things in its report on South Africa, the APR Panel
identified 18 best practices in our country, which it recommended should be
emulated by other African countries as we, together, strive to improve overall
governance and accelerate our advance towards meeting the goal of a better life
for the masses of the peoples of our continent."

Infrastructure in support of trade and development

Last year we also highlighted attention that the Summit gave to the
importance of infrastructure in the support of trade and development. To this
end the Pan-African Infrastructure Development Fund was established.

The vision for the Fund is to create a financing platform for infrastructure
development that will accelerate Africa's growth. The Fund estimates that over
the next ten years at least US$150 billion of infrastructure investment
opportunities are expected to be created due to infrastructure demands in
energy, water and sanitation, transport and communication technology.

The Fund represents investment opportunities to African States and private
investors on the continent and is structured to offer:

* a range of investment instruments to offer opportunities for African
pension fund portfolios to invest on the continent;
* competitive instruments based on public-private infrastructure investments to
increase returns;
* flexible long-term investment horizons;
* the mitigation of risk at key levels; and
* an opportunity to participate in an initiative for Africa's post-colonial
reconstruction that will help to put in place the drivers for Africa's future
growth.

Again, the important role of Regional Economic Communities was highlighted
in spurring trade and development ahead.

During the most recent Summit, the Heads of State and Government noted the
Report on assessing the progress towards the attainment of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). They called upon the AU Commission, in collaboration
with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development
Bank and the Regional Economic Communities to continue monitoring the
implementation of the MDGs and submit a progress report to Assembly at least
once a year.

The Assembly also mandated the AU Commission and the African Development
Bank to strengthen the capacity of the Regional Economic Communities, national
statistics bodies as well as other organisations in the development of
statistics for Africa. A process on African statistics harmonisation has
already been initiated.

Intra-continental travel is an important element for trade and integration.
The Summit endorsed the resolution entrusting the functions of the Executing
Agency of the Yamoussoukro Decision to the African Civil Aviation Commission.
It also endorsed the Addis Ababa Declaration on Civil Aviation as well as the
2007-2010 Air Transport Plan of Action.

The Summit also endorsed the Abuja Declaration and Plan of Action on
Maritime Transport. All stakeholders were requested to ensure the
implementation of the Action Plan for the development of the maritime
transport. The Summit recognises the important role that international partners
can play in supporting this Plan. Towards this end, international partners were
requested to support the implementation of this Plan. The Summit requested that
the AU Commission submit periodic progress reports on this issue to the
Executive Council.

Sustainable development

Your Excellencies,

Again last year, we emphasised the progress that we are making as a
continent with regards to human development. Development in all its forms
should ultimately translate into the improvement of the lives of our people.
The AU is very much alive to this priority and continues to give prominence in
its discussions to these issues.

During the Summit, the Report of the eighth and ninth sessions of the
African Committee of experts on the rights and welfare of the child was noted.
Concern was expressed over the deteriorating situation of children on the
Continent and Member States, who have not yet done so, were urged to ratify the
African Charter on Rights and Welfare of the Child.

The Executive Committee was requested to play an active role in convening
the Second Pan-African Forum on Children to be held in September 2007. The
outcomes of this Forum will be submitted to the UN General Assembly in December
2007 as Africa's position.

The Summit also endorsed the Africa Health Strategy as a framework in which
Member States will address the health challenges facing the Continent. It
further endorsed the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa, the Plan of
Action on Violence Prevention in Africa and the Monitoring and Reporting
Mechanism for the Outcomes of the May 2006 Abuja Special Summit on HIV and
AIDS, TB and Malaria. The AU Commission was requested to submit a status report
on implementation to the Executive Council.

I am glad to inform you that the Africa Health Strategy was welcomed by the
World Health Organisation.
A decision was also taken on the management of Africa's natural resources. The
Report of the ECA and the African Development Bank on the "2007 Big Table" on
the theme of Africa's natural resources was noted and the AU affirmed its
commitment to Africa's ownership of its natural resources and to the efficient
management of these resources for the achievement of sustainable development
with a strong emphasis on local value addition.

The AU Commission was requested, in collaboration with ECA and the African
Development Bank, to organise a meeting of the AU Ministers Responsible for
Natural Resources to reflect on major issues pertaining to the exploitation and
management of Africa's natural resources as a catalyst for development, and to
submit a report to the next ordinary session of the Executive Council in
2008.

World Trade Negotiations (WTO) negotiations

Trade remains one of the key milestones in facilitating the continent's
development. Towards this end, the opening up of markets, particularly those of
the developed countries for products coming from the continent remains a
priority.

Africa-European Union Dialogue

As I indicated earlier on, we do not do these things naively but do them
conscious of our own current realities. As a continent functioning within the
current realities of globalisation, partnership with the international
community, particularly the European Union, remains important. I am glad to
report that Africa-European Union discussions towards the next Africa-EU Summit
are progressing well.

At the Summit, the Heads of State and Government adopted an Outline of the
Joint Africa-EU Strategy as the basis for a fully-fledged Joint Strategy and
Action Plan for the Lisbon Summit. It also decided that a Joint Ministerial
Preparatory Meeting would be held in Egypt in November this year. The AU
Commission was requested to ensure that in preparation for the Africa-EU
Summit, Africa's development needs are taken into account, particularly in the
areas of agriculture and food security.

The Summit also noted the Report on the Commission on the Status of
Negotiations of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union
as well as the decision of the 85th session of the ACP Council of Ministers on
EPAs held in Brussels, Belgium from 21 to 24 May 2007. Deep concern was
expressed at the slow progress in the EPAs Negotiations on the development
aspects and the European Commission was called upon to reflect in their
negotiating positions the political commitment of EU member States in making
EPAs instruments of development for ACP countries.

The EU was requested to consider putting in place transitional measures to
safeguard the continued flow of African exports to the EU market beyond
December 2007, given the low likelihood of satisfactorily addressing all
outstanding EPA issues as well as the impossibility of completing the EPA
ratification by the end of 2007.

The Commission and the African Negotiating Regional Groups were requested to
prepare and submit for the consideration of the AU Ministers of Trade a
comprehensive report on the progress, problems and way forward in trade and
economic co-operation with the EU. It is within this context that it becomes
increasingly important for African Nations States to maintain unity and forge
common positions in the interest of the continent.

Afro-Arab co-operation

Beyond the Africa-EU partnership, the Summit also noted the Report of the
Chairperson of the Commission and commended the Commission and the General
Secretariat of the Arab League for the initiative to transform the Afro-Arab
Cultural Institute in Bamako, Mali, to an Afro-Arab Institute for Culture and
Strategic Studies. The Summit endorsed the conclusion of the general agreement
on co-operation between the African Union and the League of Arab States signed
in 2007 and called upon the parties to take all necessary measures to ensure
successful implementation of the provisions of the Agreement.

Peace, security and post conflict reconstruction
The Summit considered and took decisions on the conflict situations in the
Middle East and Africa. Regarding the situation in the Middle East and
Palestine the Summit reiterated its support to, and solidarity with, the
Palestinians in their struggle for self determination, return to their land and
the establishment of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, in
accordance with international principles of international law, UN Resolution
194 and other pertinent resolutions of the OAU/AU and all UN resolutions.

The Summit also reaffirmed its support for a peaceful resolution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for the Arab Peace initiative to end the
Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The UN was urged to take
concrete measures to protect the people of Palestine by providing international
protection forces to the occupied Palestinian territories and to compel Israel
to allow the UN fact-finding Mission to discharge its duties. The International
Community and Quartet Committee were urged to spare no efforts in invigorating
the negotiations to salvage the peace process, and AU support was expressed for
the organisation of an International Peace Conference on the Middle East
conflict.

I reiterate the statement made by my colleague Deputy Minister Pahad that
the South African government does not believe that you can have reconstruction
and development without peace and security and that will not be possible until
the situation in Israel and Palestine is solved on the basis of a two-state
solution.

Regarding the establishment of the Palestinian Government of National Unity,
grave concern was expressed over the deteriorating situation between the two
main components, the Fatah and the Hamas, resulting in the dissolution of the
government. The International Community was called upon to lift the siege,
boycott and blockade against the Government so as to ease the difficult living
conditions of Palestinian people which stir up tension and violence. Grave
concern was also expressed regarding the tension and violence in Lebanon and
the Council called upon the Lebanese parties to resolve their differences
through negotiations.

On Darfur

The Summit welcomed the outcomes of the United Nations-African Union
Technical Consultation with the Government of Sudan and the subsequent decision
of the Peace and Security Council on the Hybrid Operation in Darfur and the
renewal of the AMIS mandate. It expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the
Special Envoys of the African Union and United Nations, Messrs Salim Ahmed
Salim and Jan Eliasson respectively, to re-energise the Darfur Peace
Process.

On Somalia:

On the issue of Somalia, the Summit appealed to Member States and partners
to provide the requisite support for the full deployment and sustenance of
AMISON. IGAD, the League of Arab States, the United Nations and other
stakeholders were encouraged to support the early convening of a national
reconciliation congress in Somalia.

On Comoros

The Summit welcomed the decisions adopted by the Peace and Security Council
on 9 May and 9 June, as well as the Communiqué adopted by the countries of the
region at the meeting held in Cape Town. It encouraged the countries of the
region to intensify their efforts to enable the Peace and Security Council to
meet as soon as possible to take the required decisions. The Summit supported
the initiative by South Africa to host a meeting.
South Africa is still involved with the Comoros in their effort to consolidate
their democracy and deal with post-conflict and development challenges.

On policy frameworks on peace and security

The Summit noted AU Commission efforts to operationalise the continental
peace and security architecture, including the Continental Early Warning
System, the Panel of the Wise and the African Standby Force and requested it to
intensify efforts. The AU Peace and Security Council and the United Nations
Security Council were encouraged to strengthen their co-operation.

Related to the matter of conflict and the consequences thereof, the Summit
also took a decision with regard to dealing with the challenge of refugees,
returnees and displaced persons in Africa. It noted the Report on Refugees,
Returnees and Displaced Persons and called on the international community to
increase its assistance to victims. It also called on the AU Commission to
reactivate the Committee on Assistance and Protection to Refugees, Returnees
and Internally Displaced Persons, to finalise its terms of reference and to
submit it to the Legal Counsel for validation and approval at the next session
of the Executive Council.

South Africa believes that there is an urgent need for the AU and its Member
States to take greater ownership of this issue and to develop a comprehensive
strategy, with support from partners, in order to ameliorate this
situation.

Free movement of people and border control

The free movement of people within the continent is one of the building
blocks of integration and eventually Union Government. While this is still a
process in the making, the recent Summit noted the Report on this matter as
well as the symbolic launching of the African Union Diplomatic and Service
Passports. It underscored the need to de-link the issue of the African Union
Diplomatic Passport from that of Free Movement in Africa. The Summit further
decided to convene a forum, bringing together African officials at national,
regional and continental levels and the PRC to hold consultations and making
recommendations on issues of common interest that would facilitate free
movement in Africa.

A decision was also taken regarding the Conference of African Ministers in
Charge of Border Issues held in Addis Ababa on 7 June 2007. The Summit took
note of the Report of the Conference and endorsed the Declaration on the
African Union Border Programme and its implementation modalities as adopted by
the Ministerial Conference. The AU Commission and Member States were then
requested to take appropriate measures to implement the Declaration and to
submit regular report thereon to the policy organs of the Union.

Human rights

The respect for human rights remains a fundamental pillar of our approach to
the Consolidation of the African Agenda. It therefore remains critical for us
as Africans to jointly commit ourselves as governments and civil society to
entrench the protection and promotion of a culture of human rights for all our
peoples.

The AU Summit adopted and authorised the publication of the 22nd Activity
Report of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights in Accordance with
Article 59 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

Member States, who had not yet done so, were also urged to present their
State Party Reports to the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights in
accordance with Article 62 of the Charter. Also, Member States who had not yet
done so were requested to take urgent steps to ratify Protocols to the Charter
on the establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples Rights.

I am pleased to report that five new members were appointed to the
Commission and of these, four are female. This reaffirms the AU's commitment
for 50/50 gender representation within its structures.

Good governance, finance and administration

The AU continues to grapple with issues of good governance within its own
structures and institutions as well as in its Member States. The Summit
expressed concern at some of the findings of the external Auditors and endorsed
recommendations of the Permanent Representative Committee as contained in the
report. A decision was also taken to establish a Committee of the Executive
Council charged with the formulation of proposals on the implementation of the
recommendations.

The recommendations of the Executive Council were adopted in their entirety
including the recommendation to extend the term of office of the current
Executive team of the AU Commission as well as recommendations of the Pan
African Parliament and the Dakar Conference.

Furthermore, increased emphasis on performance, as proposed in the decision
should be encouraged.

2010

You're Excellencies, as you are aware, we are well on track with regards to
our preparations for 2010 as evidence by regular inspection visits by
Federation International Football Association (Fifa) and the positive reports
that have come out of these visits.

We are encouraged by the decision of the AU to encourage Member States to
implement activities programmed to lead up to 2010 and to popularise the
international year of football and the Fifa World Cup Legacy Programme.

I would like to conclude by reiterating our commitment to the vision of an
African continent that is prosperous, peaceful, democratic, non-racial,
non-sexist and united and which contributes to a world that is just and
equitable.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
16 July 2006
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs (http://www.dfa.gov.za)