Upcoming AU Summit January 2009

(CCP-AU)--The 12th summit of the African Union (AU) will be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia end January 2009. The official theme on the summit will be: ‘Infrastructure development in Africa’.

However, due to the ongoing severe crisis situations within the continent, the summit is likely to be dominated by peace and security/conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Darfur, Somalia, Mauritania, and Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea etc. It is likely the peace and security council (PSC) will meet at heads of States or ministers of foreign affairs level during the summit.

Dates of the Summit:
-ordinary session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC): 26-27 January 2009;
-ordinary session of the Executive Council (EC): 29-30 January 2009;
-ordinary session of the Assembly of heads of State and Government: 1-3 February 2009.

Key issues likely to dominate the summit:

Peace and Security:
The Peace and Security situation in the continent has worsened since the last summit held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in July this year. Efforts put forth by governments, experts and citizens on the issues of Darfur, Somalia, and Zimbabwe, have not improved the situation on the continent. It is a grave concern that other urgent armed conflict has erupted like in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Other potential conflicts that we so desperately seek to avoid are present between Eritrea and Djibouti, and other potential election related in Mauritania, Angola and Cote D’Ivoire.

Union Government of Africa
The 11th summit adopted the report of the Committee of 12 Heads of State on the Union Government (report available) as well as the Executive Council report on the Audit (reports available) but could not reach a consensus on the way forwards especially the roadmap towards the Union Government. The summit has agreed to hold a mini 1-day extra-ordinary summit on the issues during the January summit in Addis Ababa. The AU Commission has been asked
To suggest a drafted roadmap towards the Union Government to be discussed in January but also to suggest detail proposal for the implementation of the Executive Council Decisions on the Audit Report.

Social Development
The first social development ministerial conference convened by the Social Affairs Department of the African Union Commission has adopted draft social policy framework (SPF) in October 2008. The SPF will guide member States as they develop and/or implement appropriate national strategies and programs on social development. The Framework provides the most comprehensive set of
AU Common Positions, Declarations and Plans of Action on Social Development across the social and other related sectors. There is a need to develop a strong and coordinated national and regional lobby strategy amongst CSOs in order to push AU Members States towards the adoption of a final framework for the continent. The upcoming AU Summit is a good opportunity to do so.

New Chairman of the African Union for 2009
The AU will elect a new Chairman of the Union to replace the Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. The new Chairman would have to face the various conflict challenges within the continent, and the probable effects of the current financial crisis on the continent thus this election will be crucial.

Financial Crisis:
It’s likely that African heads of States will also have discussion on the ongoing global financial and probably economic crisis.

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