African Union - African Union Monthly Bulletin

African Union high-level forum addresses unconstitutional changes of government in Africa

kamiy — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 07:57:24 +0000

Over the past two decades the African Union and Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms have made significant efforts in addressing the situation of unconstitutional changes of government on the continent. Member States have deployed efforts in promoting democracy and good governance, including holding free, fair and transparent elections; and upholding term limits, as per their respective constitutions.

However, despite these efforts, the continent is still experiencing an increase in the number of Member States which modify and eliminate constitutional term limits, resist efforts to institute term limits in their constitutions, and experience unconstitutional changes of government.

With the aim of addressing this recurring phenomenon, the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the African Union Commission, led by H.E. Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security hosted a Reflection Forum on Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa from 15 to 17 March 2022, in Accra, Ghana. The Forum, which was attended by H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President of the Republic of Ghana , brought together members of the Peace & Security Council, Representatives of AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms, relevant AU organs institutions; APRM, ACHPR, AUDA-NEPAD, security practitioners, civil society, African think tanks, academia, youth and women groups and professional organizations.

The forum concluded with the adoption of the Accra Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa, which proposed a number of actions to be taken by the AU, Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms, and Member states to comprehensively address unconstitutional changes of government on the continent.

The forum, among other things, urged Member States to work collaboratively in insulating national and local level strategic institutions, underscored the need for the AU and RECs/RMs to synergise their interventions in addressing issues of unconstitutional changes of government, and called for consideration of the establishment of a multi stakeholder mechanism on democratic governance, to facilitate the consolidation of constitutionalism in Africa through stakeholder engagement. It also called for a comprehensive framework establishing different categories of sanctions that may be gradually applied in accordance with the gravity of the violation or threat to the constitutional order, without compromising the well-being of ordinary, and especially vulnerable, citizens.

The forum’s outcomes were presented to the Extraordinary Summit on continental security issues, scheduled to take place on 28 May 2022 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

June 08, 2022

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African Union Monthly Bulletin

2021 African Integration Report shows significant progress in achieving the continental integration agenda

kamiy — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 07:54:53 +0000

The 2021 African Integration Report issued under the theme “Putting Free Movement of Persons at the centre of Continental Integration”, is based on the African Multidimensional Regional Integration Index (AMRII). The Index was developed by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), with the participation of the Association of African Central Banks and national statistical agencies.

The 2021 Africa Regional Integration Index (ARII) assesses the regional integration status and efforts of African countries. ARII compares each country to the other countries in its regional economic community and to the countries of Africa as a whole.

The third edition of the African Integration Report comes at a time when the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to ravage economies around the world, and the continent is no exception. The economic impact of the pandemic on the African continent is already clear: the first recession in 25 years, with economic activity falling by more than 3% in 2020.

The report captures the opportunities and challenges that come with these significant developments in the African regional integration agenda and provides a comprehensive and structured review of the status of integration and gives innovative policy recommendations for accelerating the ongoing regional integration process.

The third edition of the African Integration Report gives in-depth analysis of:

The status of regional integration on the continent using the African multidimensional regional integration Index.
The lessons and trends in the integration process both at the continental as well as REC level.
The free movement of persons as an essential step towards the achievement of the African Economic Community in relation to the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people.
The recommendations on how regional integration can help Africa to build back better and the role of regional integration in Africa's post-COVID-19 recovery with an analysis of the global economic and financial ecosystem.
The need for enhanced inclusivity and the role of gender and youth in African integration; including in the AfCFTA and in post-COVID19 recovery on the continent.
Financing regional integration in Africa and operationalising the African Integration Fund.

The overall assessment score for the integration process within the continent is 0.62 on a scale of 0 to 1. The overall AMRII scores for each of the RECs are the arithmetic mean of the scores obtained in the 8 dimensions of the index. These scores are a reflection of the efforts made within each of the RECs. The RECs which are making the most effort are, the East African Community (EAC); the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA); the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). Overall, they have scores exceeding 0.6 in a rating range between 0 and 1. On the other hand, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD); the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD); and the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) are just above the average value of 0.5. The fact of not having defined plans or programmes in certain dimensions of integration such as free movement, financial and monetary integration is one reason for the poor overall performance of these RECs.

The Report shows that ECOWAS, COMESA and EAC performed best in trade integration, with scores above 75%. The three have been able to implement essential steps for achieving trade integration such as the free trade zones and a common external tariff, among others.

At the infrastructural level, the RECs have almost similar developments. This corroborates the general problem of infrastructure in Africa, which cannot effectively support the integration process. With an average progression of 63%, no REC stands out significantly in terms of the achievements and progress made.

The Report shows that the average progress of the RECs in the implementation of free movement of persons is moderate at 0.68 on a rating scale between 0 and 1. ECOWAS and EAC stand out from other RECs in the evaluations, with respective ratings of ECOWAS (100%) and EAC (96%); all the other RECs score below 65%. This can be explained by the difficulties experienced in either implementing the regional free movement protocols or the abolition of visas in their Member States.

In terms of monetary integration, the report shows that all the RECs are still struggling. SADC and EAC are making the best progress towards monetary integration, with the establishment of preparatory institutions for monetary integration, such as a Monetary Institute and a committee for the harmonization of convergence criteria. On environmental integration, ECCAS, SADC, ECOWAS and COMESA have scores above 60%. These RECs have been able to develop plans and programmes focused on environmental protection particularly in the context of climate change. ECCAS is more advanced with several institutions involved in environmental management.

Financial Integration is one of the important dimensions to support free trade areas, customs unions, and common markets, at the regional or continental level. This latest report looks at the main steps that characterize the process of financial integration such as the harmonization of financial policies at the regional level and the establishment of a regulatory institution; among others. It shows that SADC and COMESA have put in the most effort in achieving financial integration.

In regards to institutional and political integration, ECOWAS and the EAC stand out as having set up institutions linked to political and institutional integration, such as the court of justice and a regional parliament.

Download the 2021 African Integration Report here.

The African Union Commission Chairperson, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat commended the progress made in moving forward the continental integration highlighting the possibilities to foster regional integration for the continent's socio-economic transformation. Some RECs have provided practical success stories based on strategies and initiatives that can easily be adopted by others. In his foreword to the report, he stated “one of the important messages emerging from the 2021 African Integration Report is that while the pace of regional integration has been generally slow in some RECs, significant progress has been made in various thematic areas; such as the free movement of persons, customs unions, tariff and nontariff barriers, transport corridors and regional infrastructure.”

The report was launched during the Africa CEOs Roundtable Conference at the Expo 2020 Dubai. Watch the launch of the report and the contributions of various stakeholders here.

Read statements by Amb. Albert Muchanga, African Union Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining Department and ZHAO Jian, Acting Chief of Mission and Head of Special Liaison Office of IOM .

June 08, 2022

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African Union Monthly Bulletin

The “What African Women Want” Campaign rallies more action on women’s empowerment

kamiy — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 07:41:39 +0000

Africa has progressive normative frameworks that guarantee gender equality in social, economic and political affairs. Through years of activism and legal reforms, many countries are seeing progress in terms of women’s rights and status in societies. However, the continent still lags behind in realising the goals set in various continental legal frameworks including the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, (Maputo Protocol) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child resulting in the rights of women and girls not being upheld and their full contribution to society being hampered by amongst others, underlying structural inequalities that perpetuate harmful cultural practices, negative social norms and lack of bodily autonomy.

As part of the efforts to turn the tide, the African Union launched a campaign to rally more action to the commitments on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. The “What African Women Want” campaign launched on International Women’s Day on 8^th March 2022, is intended to popularise and advocate for the speedy and full implementation of the African Union Strategy for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (2018-2028); as well as advocate for the implementation of programmes earmarked as part of the African Women’s Decade of Women’s Financial and Economic Inclusion (2020-2030); at the national, regional, continental and global levels for women to realise, enjoy and benefit from their rights and expand the spaces for empowerment.

In recent years, progress has been recorded as African governments, public and private institutions implement gender-responsive actions, and as African women, through resilience and commitment, advance their quest to break the societal barriers and glass ceiling. In a push to make gender issues more visible, the “What African Women Want” campaign seeks to highlight key issues still faced by women in their pursuit of parity and equity, and provides actionable recommendations to address the existing and emerging challenges.

The campaign aligns to Aspiration six of Agenda 2063 which advocates for “An Africa, whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children”. This calls for the empowerment of African women in all spheres, with equal social, political and economic rights.

The “What African Women Want” campaign advocates for, among others;

A conceptual shift from the practical to the strategic needs of women; a Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment and Women’s Rights framework.
Ending child marriages, gender violence and harmful traditional practices.
Eradicating preventable maternal mortality, HIV and AIDS and ensuring affordable, accessible, youth friendly sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights services.
Ensuring women’s equal access to productive resources, including mining, land, credit, ICTs, and training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
Guaranteeing equal pay for work of equal value; recognising and rewarding the unpaid work of women.
Enhancing women’s effective participation in decision-making in and through public and private institutions, the media and new media.
Engaging men, boys and the youth in the struggle for gender equality.
Building strong gender management systems including gender responsive budgeting at all levels.

The campaign is also an opportunity for people across the continent and in the diaspora to engage and share success stories, testimonials or best practices on what has worked and projects that are advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. Such contributions can be shared as an article or video and all materials will be vetted to establish suitability for posting on AU platforms.

To learn more about the #WhatAfricanWomenWant campaign and what the African Union is doing to realise gender equality and women’s empowerment on the continent, visit - https://au.int/en/campaigns/what-women-want

Follow and join the discussion using the hashtag #WhatAfricanWomenWant, and rally for more action.

June 08, 2022

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African Union Monthly Bulletin

AU reiterates right of all people to cross international borders during conflict

kamiy — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 07:36:53 +0000

other foreign nationals, particularly students, were reported to be scrambling to leave Ukraine as many foreigners living in Ukraine faced unequal treatment and delays as they attempted to flee the war alongside local Ukrainians.

In light of these developments, the AU Chair, Senegal's President Macky Sall, and Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of AU Commission issued a joint statement condemning the “unacceptable dissimilar treatment” that “would be shockingly racist and in breach of international law,".

The statement added that all people have the right to cross international borders during conflict, and should enjoy the same rights to cross to safety from the conflict in Ukraine, notwithstanding their nationality or racial identity.

Read the full statement @ https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20220228/statement-ill-treatment-africans-trying-leave-ukraine

June 08, 2022

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African Union Monthly Bulletin

AUC Chairperson Welcomes the Declaration of an Indefinite Humanitarian Truce by The Ethiopian Government in Tigray Region

kamiy — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 09:57:40 +0000

Since the appointment of the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa, H.E Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat as part of the African Union’s drive to promote peace, security, stability and political dialogue across the Horn of Africa region, formidable efforts in promoting durable peace and political dialogue in Ethiopia and across the region have been made.

The Declaration of an indefinite Humanitarian Truce by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, on 24 March, is an effort to expedite the provision of much needed humanitarian aid to people in need in the Tigray region. The Regional Government of Tigray committed to observe the said humanitarian truce, and also welcomed the declaration of an immediate cessation of hostilities.

The declaration is accompanied by recent developments in the country including the establishment of the National Dialogue Commission, coupled with the promulgation of the necessary legislation; the release of prisoners; humanitarian access; and the general improvement in goodwill and commitment to dialogue to address the challenges facing the country with the facilitation of the AU.

The Chairperson urged Mr. Obasanjo to continue his strong efforts in working closely with the parties and stakeholders towards the swift resolution of the conflict, and reiterated the AU’s call for a permanent, comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire, with cessation of hostilities, and political solution through nationwide dialogue and a reconciliation process.

June 08, 2022

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African Union Monthly Bulletin