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Second Summit of the African Union
(AU)
Maputo, Mozambique July 10-12, 2003
Africa is going through a crucial phase of its history.
The continent is opening up to foreign investment and
undergoing economic reforms, yet at the same time progress
is being stifled by globalisation, civil wars, ethnic
divisions, democratic challenges and epidemics like AIDS
and other diseases.
For these reasons, the African Union (AU) was created
in order to promote unity, as well as the establishment
of common values on key issues affecting the continent.
Between July 10th to 12th, the Second Summit of the
AU took place in Maputo, Mozambique. World Investment
News was there to meet with top African leaders and
to contribute to the dialogue and debates that took
place behind the scenes.
The Summit brought together all the heads of state
of African nations as well as the representatives from
leading international organisations, including Kofi
Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations and Horst
Kohler, Managing Director of the International Monetary
Fund.
The atmosphere at the Summit was positive, yet there
was a sense of urgency that preventative measures have
to be taken now in order to stop current and future
conflicts.
"We are very positive, very serious and very determined
to end the conflict around the continent" said the
President of Ghana, John Kufuor to AFP. "We want
to restore peace and normalcy everywhere so as to allow
development".
In order to address this concern, the creation of a
Peace and Security Council was proposed in order to
establish a potential African Standby Force that can
maintain order in situations of crisis. Currently there
are some 20 current conflicts in Africa, each of them
needing some sort of mediation or peace force.
The AU was established under the model of the United Nations
Security Council. Although it was only created two years
ago in 2002, it hopes to become an important force in
the future of Africa's development.
The AU maintains that it is also necessary to strive
towards medium and long-term goals in order to build
a common front and encourage future development. Therefore,
one of the central platforms of the AU is the New Partnership
for Africa's Development (NEPAD), which promises to
address key social, economic and political issues in
order to halt the marginalisation of Africa in the globalization
process.
Other projects include the creation of a Pan African
Parliament, which could be established by 2004.
It is hoped that increased political and security cooperation
will eventually create an atmosphere capable of attracting
much-needed investments to the region.
"At this assembly, a consensus was reached that
peace and stability are basic conditions for ensuring
Africa's harmonious and sustainable development"
said Joachim Chissano, President of Mozambique, to AFP.
"It is therefore incumbent on us to find a durable
solution to the situations of tension and conflict still
prevailing so as to transform Africa into a region attracting
investments."
The vision of African leaders was perfectly summed
up by the new Chairman of the Commission of the AU,
the former President of Mali, Alpha Oumar Konare.
"I want to build the Africa of our dreams, an
Africa that carries hope ... a space of rights, solidarity
and democracy," said Konare.
Konare has a big job ahead of him. The challenges are
great, and the road towards progress will not be easy,
but by standing together Africa has a chance to move
ahead and improve the life of its people.
The third AU summit will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
QUICK FACTS ON THE AFRICAN UNION (AU):
· Head Quarters of the AU is in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
· Founded in 2002, its succeeds the OUA which
was created in 1963
· Its mission is to promote integration, stability
and development in Africa
· Members include 53 States
· Its institutions comprise of Commission, Parliament,
Court, Security and Peace Council
· The current President of the AU is Joaquim
Chissano (President of Mozambique)
Please see the Official web site of the African Union, http://www.africa-union.org/ for more information, speeches and declarations from the
Maputo Summit.
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