1. At the invitation of the Director-General, Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba, Acting Permanent Secretary Amb PS Wamoto of the Republic of Kenya was invited to South Africa to participate in a Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) from 16 - 17 March 2011.Amb Wamoto was represented by Amb MAO Oyugi, Acting Political and Diplomatic Secretary, at the SOM. Amb Oyugi was accompanied by Senior Government Officials from the Republic of Kenya.
2. The Senior Officials Meeting took place within the framework of official instruments signed between South Africa and Kenya.On 5 August 2003 the Governments of the Republic of South Africa and Kenya signed a Declaration of Intent on Cooperation.To further expand the said Declaration of Intent, on 2 October 2007 both Governments signed the Agreement for the Establishment of a Joint Commission of Cooperation (JCC).
3. In accordance with the JCC agreement, a Mid-Term review is to be conducted on an annual basis at a senior official’s level prior to the JCC which is to be held biennially and is to be presided over by the Foreign Ministers of both countries.Since the signing of the Cooperation Agreement there has not been an Inaugural Session, however, South African and Kenyan delegations from both the public and private sectors have continued to visit and engage with each other on a regular basis.
4. Furthermore, Amb Oyugi’s visit follows the successful three-day official visit to the Republic of Kenya by the South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, from 24 - 26 November 2010. Deputy President Motlanthe was accompanied by a high level delegation consisting of the Ministers of Trade, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Deputy Ministers for the Departments of International Relations and Cooperation and Tourism and other senior officials of the Government of South Africa.
5. The purpose of the Senior Officials Meeting is therefore to discuss the outcomes arising from the Joint Communiqué issued at the end of the Deputy President’s Official Visit to Kenya and for officials to plan for the inauguration of the JCC.The inaugural session of the JCC is scheduled to take place later in the year in conjunction with a State Visit to Kenya. President Kibaki has extended an invitation to President Zuma, who has accepted to pay a State Visit to Kenya. This will be the first State Visit by a South African President to Kenya.
6. During the Senior Officials Meeting, the South African and Kenyan delegations held fruitful discussions and reviewed bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. They also expressed their mutual satisfaction with the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries and emphasized their determination to further strengthen and expand cooperation in, amongst others, the fields of Agriculture, Arts and Culture, Correctional Services, Defence, Higher Education, Immigration, Police, Public Services and Administration, Public Works, Science and Technology, Tourism, Trade and Industry, Revenue Services, Social Development and Water and Environmental Affairs.
7. The two Heads of Delegation noted with satisfaction the deepening trade relations between the two countries as manifested by the meetings of the Joint Trade Committee. It was furthermore acknowledged that trade flows between the two countries are not only critical for the two nations to develop, but equally important in building a cohesive force that places emphasis on intra-Africa trade as an important ingredient towards full regional integration.
8. South Africa and Kenya are also positive that within the processes of the East African Community-Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa-Southern African Development Community (EAC-COMESA-SADC) Tripartite Arrangement, progress can be made towards its realization. Success in building the envisaged Tripartite Free Trade Area would create a single market, with all its attendant economic opportunities,taking full advantage of a market of more than 400 million people. Both countries acknowledged the importance of the second EAC-COMESA-SADC Summit, to be held in South Africa this year, in determining further steps to be taken by the three regional economic communities to develop the Free Trade Area.
9. The two Heads of Delegation considered progress made with regard to the signing of new instruments in various sectors between South African and Kenyan Ministers at the inaugural session of the JCC and the State Visit.These MoUs and Agreements will further enhance the consolidation and expansion of the bilateral cooperation between South Africa and Kenya.
10. The South African and Kenyan delegations reaffirmed their commitment to the consolidation of the African Agenda and reiterated their commitment to working together in promoting peace and security in the Continent. To this end, they considered the importance of finding an amicable solution to the outstanding post-referendum issues in the Sudan, such as the Abyei referendum, border demarcation, sharing of oil, natural resources and economic issues, foreign debt, citizenship, security and other issues. The two parties expressed their hope that these issues would be resolved in an expeditious manner that will benefit all parties involved.
11. Consideration was also given to the post-conflict reconstruction and development programmes that would be required by Southern Sudan as well as the need for capacity building and training of personnel of the new Southern Sudanese Government. The two parties further expressed their optimism that the current mediation process in the Darfur conflict will eventually attain the desired outcomes and all efforts should be made to support the process.
12. Amb Oyugi briefed the Mr Nkosi and the South African delegation on political developments in the East African region, particularly with regard to the current situation in Somalia.The two Heads of Delegation further agreed on the need for ongoing support to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and AMISOM in line with AU and UN decisions.
13. In turn, Mr Nkosi briefed his Kenyan counterpart on the latest developments in Madagascar and Zimbabwe. South Africa will continue to support the efforts by the SADC Mediator, former Mozambican President Chissano in assisting the Malagasy civil society in facilitating an Inter-Malagasy National Dialogue, as well as in the holding of democratic elections and a return to constitutional normality.
On Zimbabwe both delegations concurred on the need for the lifting of international sanctions and the implementation of the GPA.
14. The Heads of Delegation further reflected on the crisis in the Ivory Coast and the mediation efforts made by ECOWAS as well asthe AU Panel.The recent political unrests in North Africa, i.e. Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, were also discussed and both sides expressed their deep concern at the loss of life and property and requested the authorities of the aforementioned countries to expedite the return to constitutional systems as soon as possible.
15. Amb Oyugi also conveyed Kenya’s congratulations on South Africa joining BRICS and its successful election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2011 to 2012. In this regard, Mr Nkosi assured that South Africa will continue to champion and advance the African Agenda and collaborate with other African member states in pursuing issues of mutual benefit during the two-year tenure at the United Nations Security Council.
16. n this regard, Kenya’s request for the deferral of the cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC) was discussed.
17. The two Heads of Delegation agreed to maintain and build on the momentum gathered in preparations for the inaugural JCC which is set to be a milestone in the relations between South Africa and Kenya.
18. At the conclusion of the senior officials visit, Amb Oyugi expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to Dr Ntsaluba, Mr Nkosi and Government officials of South Africa for the fraternal reception and warm hospitality accorded to the Kenyan delegation during the visit
Done in Pretoria on 17 March 2011
