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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 15 October 2012-The
African Union Commission, as the secretariat of the African Union will
seek to define and build a trajectory that extracts the continent from
poverty to development, said Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, at her
installation as the Commission’s Chairperson today, presided over by the
Chairperson of the African Union, Dr Thomas Boni Yayi, President of the
Republic of Benin, in the presence of Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime
Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
The
Commission will take pro-active steps to support member states and
regional bodies in their efforts to promote, consolidate and expand
citizen centered, developmental and democratic governance. This is in
line with the African Union’s vision of achieving a prosperous, peaceful
and integrated continent. In pursuing this African agenda, the
Commission will take into account, the shared values of consistent
political and democratic freedom, and the development and modernization
of African productive forces, Dr Dlamini Zuma stressed.
Among
the Commission’s priority areas, as outlined by its Chairperson, will
be peace, security and stability in Africa, food security, exploitation
of natural resources, health and education, gender equality, youth
development, development of infrastructure, promotion of intra African
trade, building the African Union’s capacity to deliver efficiently and
effectively and consolidating relationships with key partners.
Dr
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, who became the first women ever to lead the
Commission, told hundreds of delegates and members of the diplomatic
corps that, Africa has witnessed phenomenal progress over the past 20
years, in socio political and economic terms. However she also said the
long walk to achieving the AU vision has not ended and there are still
many hills to climb.
Key priority areas as outlined by the Chairperson
Peace and security a pre requisite for peace and development
Peace,
security and stability are a pre requisite for development and good
governance. Resolving conflicts such as those in Mali and the Sahel
region, the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the
Great Lakes region, and in Guinea Bissau will be a priority for the
Commission. The Commission will also continue to provide the necessary
support to Sudan and South Sudan in finalizing all the outstanding
issues between them. The AUC will be actively involved in post conflict
reconstruction and development.
Food security and mineral resources
Africa
has one quarter of the world’s arable land and land is a source of
livelihood for 70 percent of the population. Yet the continent generates
only 10 percent of global agricultural output. The African Union will
therefore put maximum effort to implement the provisions of the
Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), so
that Africa can feed itself and have more for export.
In terms of mineral resources, the Commission will push for exploitation of these resources so that they benefit African people.
Health and education
Maternal
and infant mortality remains unacceptably high in Africa. The
Commission will endeavour to reduce, if not eliminate maternal mortality
so that children have a fighting chance to reach their full potential
and also that mothers get the chance to contribute fully to their
families, societies, nations and continent.
Women’s empowerment
The
Commission will accelerate implementation of programmes related to the
African Women’s Decade to realize gender equality and to ensure that
women, who constitute slightly more than 50 percent of the African
population, are brought into the mainstream of decision making processes
and structures at all levels of society.
Youth development and education
The
Commission views young people as an invaluable asset. In this regard,
it will seek to harness the energy, resourcefulness and enthusiasm of
young people so that they contribute positively to their societies,
nations and the continent. Priority will be given to education, training
and employment, particularly of young people, women and girls.
Infrastructural development, integration and intra African trade
The
development of infrastructure and connectivity between the different
African member states is key to Africa’s integration efforts, to
facilitate people to people relations and to facilitate intra African
trade.
Institutional capacity building
As
the AU Commission undertakes to achieve all its priority areas, it must
also build its capacity so as to be equal to the task. More will be
done to build on improvements already made.
Consolidating African Unity
The
Commission will pursue the goal of unity for all Africans in the
realization that, working as one, the continent’s total population of 1
billion people holds greater weight globally and can achieve much more
than individual African states.
The
Commission, in pursuing all its objectives will be informed by
experiences learnt over the last fifty years:- the time when the
organization of African Unity was formed. It will take opportunity of
the 50th anniversary of the OAU in 2013, to reflect on where
the continent has come from, as well as to plan for the next fifty
years. In discharging its functions, the Commission will work with
member states, Regional Economic Communities, the United Nations, the
African Development Bank and its other partners.
The
Commission’s outgoing Chairperson Dr Jean Ping officially handed over
the symbols of the African Union to Dr Dlamini Zuma. “I am giving way
to a great lady...I am confident the affairs of the continent are in
safe hands," Dr Ping said during the handover ceremony. The Commission’s
Deputy Chairperson Mr Erastus Mwencha, incoming and outgoing
Commissioners, ambassadors, development partners and AUC staff members
attended the ceremony.
