Public Debates Launched Africa-Wide on Africa Day

May 25, Africa Union Day, marks the start of public consultations in over fifteen countries just a few weeks before 53 Heads of States meet in Accra to agree on the AU Proposal to establish the United States of Africa.

In an unprecedented decision, the Heads of States agreed in January to meet in Accra on July 2-3rd to discuss only one agenda, the establishment of a Union Government as a first step towards the United States of Africa.

Yet, despite extensive research and consultation, the proposal is yet to be placed before Africa’s 832 million citizens for consultation. Civil society organizations with support from Governments have kicked off debates in fifteen countries. The debates are an unprecedented attempt to involve the public across Africa in the decision-making processes of the African Union Assemblies.

“Without public consultation, the United States of Africa proposal will have as much chance of flying as an elephant. African governments and citizens must explore the immediate implications and opportunities a Union Government creates for ordinary citizens, particularly those affected by the denial of human rights, poverty and injustice,” said Thomas Deve of Mwelekeo wa NGO (MWENGO), one of the organisers in Zimbabwe.

In the fifteen countries, citizens will be asked to reflect on the opportunities of a Union Government for raising the bar for human rights, democratic governance and conflict. The proposed African Economic Community, a dream that recently got a step closer with the signing of common tariffs within COMESA, will be debates with an eye to an African common market that targets growth, poverty reduction and industrialisation.

“African civil society organisations are in the forefront of generating dialogue between leaders and citizens on this issue. There are many implications. A more unified voice would produce an effective collective negotiating position on global trade policies such as the Economic Partnership Agreements or with China for instance,” said Valerie Traore, Pan African Programme Manager, African Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD) in Nairobi.

While there is general agreement among member-states on the need for deeper and faster continental political and economic integration, the proposal is controversial. Member-states are split between those calling for the strengthening of existing AU structures before taking a bold leap to the United States of Africa and those that argue that as long as the continent remains a motley gathering of fragmented states, continental integration is a futile exercise.

A Ghanaian CSO host committee is preparing to take the views generated in the public debates to the Heads of States at the AU Summit in Accra. Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey, Convenor of the Ghana AU Summit Civil Society Coalition says, “Public engagement should not end with an event at the AU Summit. It should be built into all regional integration efforts to ensure that they are relevant, responsive and accountable to African people.”

Please download the full text of the press release may_25th_CG_press_release.pdf for more background information. For more details of national organisers, please contact: Ivy Maina, Mobile: +254 734 949 105 (Kenya). For Interviews on the Pan African significance of the Proposal contact:

In Ghana
Dr Emanuel O. Akwetey – on Relevance to CSO expectations for the Accra Summit
Director, Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) –Ghana, No. 10 Palm Street, East Legon, Accra, Ghana
Mbl: +233 24 4325157, Tel: +233-21 518017, +233-21 506466, Email: eakwetey at ideg.org

In Zimbabwe
Thomas Deve – Relevance to Citizens participation and transparent Governance
Policy Analyst, MWENGO Economic Policy Project Civil Society & Advocacy Programme, Highlands, Harare
Mbl: +263 (0) 91 204 793, Tel: +263 4 721469, Email: thomas at mwengo.org.zw

In Kenya
Valerie Traore – on Relevance to Continent’s Struggle for a Fair World Trade Order
Pan African Programme Manager, Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD), ACK
Garden House, Nairobi, Kenya, Tel: +254 (20) 2721185/6, Email: valerie.traore at acordinternational.org

Irungu Houghton – on Relevance to Continent’s challenges of poverty and Conflict
Pan-Africa Policy Advisor, Oxfam GB, Shelter Afrique, Mamlaka road, Nairobi, Kenya.
Mbl: 254-(0) 733 635 354, Tel: 254-20-2820155, Email: irunguh at oxfam.org.uk

Brian Kagoro – on Relevance to peoples Organisations and Social Movements
Africa Policy Manager, Action Aid- International Africa, AACC Building 4th Floor, Waiyaki Way, Nairobi,
Mbl: +254 724 268 150, Tel: +254 20 445 1 041-3, Email: Brian.kagoro at actionaid.org

In South Africa
Ozias Tungwarara – Relevance to Greater effectiveness of AU Institutions
Director AFRIMAP, 10th Flr, Bramfontein Center, 23 Jorissen Street, Johannesburg, South Africa
Mbl: +27 836 116 383, Tel: +27 11 4033414/6, Email: ozias at osisa.org

In England
Dr Tajudeen Abdul–Raheem – on Assessment of the Transitions from OAU to AU
Deputy Director, Africa, United Nations, Millennium Campaign, AACC, Waiyaki Way, Nairobi, Kenya
Mbl: +44-(0) 7887798742, +254 - 726 503315,
Email: tajudeen.abdul-raheem at undp.org, tajua at aol.com, tajudeen28 at yahoo.com

<< Back to main