The Nation Newspaper

Tag: African Union (AU)

  • AU to set up Humanitarian agency by June 2018 – Official

    AU to set up Humanitarian agency by June 2018 – Official

    The African Union ( AU ) is to set up an African Humanitarian Agency to handle emergency situations in the continent.

    Mr Olabisi Dare, Head Humanitarian Affairs and Displaced Persons at the AU, told our reporter in Nairobi that the agency would coordinate all relief work on the continent.

    He said already feasibility studies on the setting up of the agency have been concluded while a technical committee would meet in March next year to assess the studies.

    Dare said the Heads of State were expected to adopt the report and eventually approve the setting up of the agency at their meeting in June 2018.

    He said the agency would set up response teams in different regions of the continent to ensure quick response to emergency situations.

    It would also use existing structures in member countries to train personnel and provide logistics for addressing emergency situations in the continent.

    On funding of the agency, Dare said a donors’ conference would hold early next year while an Emergency Assistance Fund would be set to ensure constant flow of funds to the agency.

    Dare said the Fund would be managed by the African Development Bank ( AfDB ) and would be replenished every year.

    He said the plan was to solicit funding from the private sector instead of traditional donors which are largely governments and development partners.

    Dare said he was confident that the private sector would donate to the project since adequate provisions would be made to ensure transparency in the management of the money realised.

    “We have high network of rich individuals, foundations and companies in Africa who will be ready to donate.

    “Much depends on your homework and how you intend to govern the funds realised. We will assure donors that there will be transparency.’’ Dare said.

    Dare also said that the Heads of State are expected to ratify a Common African Position on Humanitarian Effectiveness at the AU Summit schedule in January 2018.

    He said the document was expected to guide member states to effectively respond to humanitarian situations in their respective countries.

    He said the document provided necessary guidelines in dealing with humanitarian situations and had addressed such issues as primary responsibilities of states, addressing root causes and providing durable solutions to humanitarian crises, role of host communities as well as protection and assistance of affected populations, among others.

    Dare said the document also provided for a 10-year implementation plan which was developed through consensus, as well as monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian responses.

    NAN

  • AU calls for calm in Zimbabwe

    AU calls for calm in Zimbabwe

    The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Wednesday urged Zimbabweans  to address the current situation in the country in accordance with the country’s Constitution.

    He also urged them to use the  relevant instruments of the African Union ( AU ), including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance in arriving at an amicable resolution of the crisis.

    In a statement in Addis Ababa, Mahmat said he was following closely the developments in the country.

    Soldiers had earlier on Wednesday morning announced on state radio what appeared to be a coup against  President Robert Mugabe who has been ruling the country since its independence in 1980.

    However, a military spokesperson later denied staging a coup saying it was only acting against “criminals” surrounding the 93-year-old ruler.

    Mahmat, in the statement, stressed  that it is crucial that the crisis is resolved “in a manner that promotes democracy and human rights, as well as the socio-economic development of Zimbabwe”.

    “The Chairperson of the Commission expresses the commitment of the African Union to working closely with the Southern African Development Community ( SADC ) and the leaders of the region, and to support their efforts.”

    NAN

  • FG to invest more in entertainment infrastructure – Lai Mohammed

    FG to invest more in entertainment infrastructure – Lai Mohammed

     The Federal Government( FG ) says it will provide the needed facilities for the entertainment industry to thrive in the country.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said this in an interview on the sideline of the 4th All African Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2017 in Lagos.

    He said that the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari, would continue to support the entertainment industry by providing infrastructural facilities.

    On the significance of the AFRIMA to Nigeria’s economy and entertainment industry, Mohammed said that in order to encourage the entertainment industry, government would partner with private investors to invest more in the entertainment facilities.

    “The entertainment industry is overwhelming in the world right now and in Nigeria we need to do more in providing right atmosphere which is infrastructural facilities for the industry.

    “We are not just talking about power sector or water, we are talking about entertainment. We need to be on purpose, build halls that will encourage our artists and musicians.

    “We are talking about domestic tourism, domestic market where we can really expose our artists, so this will not only be about government but also private sector to provide the infrastructure.

    “On the part of government, we will encourage more private sector and philanthropists all over the world because it is not something we leave to government alone,’’ he said.

    Mohammed said that hosting of event such as AFRIMA was another way of generating income for the government because of the tourism factor which could bring more earnings.

    “Nigeria is having this event now, AFRIMA 2017, and we are talking about bringing another way of improving our economy through other income.

    “We must not forget that Nigeria hosted same award last year and we have to make another positive request for this year so that it can remain in Nigeria.

    “We thank the African Union (AU) for this opportunity for accepting Nigeria to host it again this year. We are also grateful to Lagos State government for the support of this award.

    “The positive thing about the award is that we have been able to move the music industry from the back corner to the front burner,’’ he said.
    Mohammed said that the concentration would not be placed only on agriculture or oil and gas, but also on creative industry as a means of diversifying the economy.

    “This means when we are talking about economy, we are not just talking about agriculture, solid mineral or construction but actually more in the creative industry.

    “Nigeria already has a very high advantage, and we can see that recently with the awards Nigerian are getting in the industry and most recent of the Wizkid award in U.K.

    “This shows the kind of influence we can have in the creative industry which can be positive to our economy,’’ he said.

    The minister was the Special Guest of Honour at the Awards Ceremony.

    NAN

  • ECOWAS, AU score Liberia elections high

    ECOWAS, AU score Liberia elections high

    The ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to Liberia on Wednesday said the country’s general elections held on Tuesday were on the path to being credible.

    It said this in its preliminary report presented by its leader and former President of Ghana, Mr John Mahama, at a joint press conference with the African Union ( AU ) delegation in Monrovia.

    Mahama said although there were isolated cases of violence and late commencement of voting in some parts of the country, the exercise was generally transparent up to the point of vote counting.

    “Let me emphasise here. The mission believes thus far, up to this point, that with the environment in the lead up to the election, the voting day activities, sorting and counting of the ballots, Liberia is largely on track to achieve a credible poll.

    “This is the meat of my report, and I don’t want to be misreported; thus far, thus far. I am utilising my Kenyan experience; thus far.’’

    The experience cited by Mahama bordered on the public criticism he received for rating the last presidential elections in Kenya as credible.

    He was one of the observers in that election, which was later nullified by the country’s Supreme Court due to irregularities.

    Mahama commended the National Elections Commission ( NEC ) for the “professionalism displayed by its leadership and officials in the field, urging it to expedite action on quick release of the results to dowse public anxiety”.

    “The mission urges the electoral commission to approach the concluding phases of the process with fairness and transparency until the final proclamation of results.

    “It calls on the party leaders and candidates, their followers and the media to maintain the same posture of restraint, serenity and patriotism until the collation has been completed and the announcement of the results made.

    “The ECOWAS observation mission urges NEC to expedite action on the proclamation of the results in order to prevent anxiety within the population.’’

    The ECOWAS mission team leader also lauded the candidates, their parties and supporters for their “maturity during the campaigning and the voting process”.

    He called on all the candidates to put Liberia first by maintaining the prevailing peace in the land, while also urging the candidates to accept the will of the people.

    Mahama emphasised the need for candidates to seek redress only through legal means in the event of genuine grievances.

    Mr Erastus Mwencha, who led the AU team, said there was a “lot of convergence’’ in both reports.

    In his remarks, Mwencha noted that democracy was taking deeper root in Africa judging by the Liberian experience.

    “We found there was a lot of convergence, and so don’t expect me to say anything outside what the president has said.

    “In fact, I was telling him that I was simply coming to say `ditto’, that is all that I needed to say.

    “Having witnessed the election of 2005, the election of 2011, and now that of 2017, we have seen democracy being entrenched and Liberians taking this process as their own.

    “The first election was done with a lot on international support, but this election was largely an exercise conducted by the people of Liberia.’’

    The Liberian electoral body is expected to release provisional results of the elections on Thursday.

    NAN

  • AU grants Nigeria AFRIMA hosting right

    AU grants Nigeria AFRIMA hosting right

    The African Union ( AU ) has awarded the hosting right for the Pan African Music Initiative, All Africa Music Awards ( AFRIMA ), to Nigeria for another three years (2017-2019).

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Segun Adeyemi, Special Adviser to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Lagos on Sunday.

    The minister said the hosting right was given to the country following its successful hosting of the 2014-2016 editions.

    He said that the award of the hosting right was conveyed in a letter written ton him by the Commissioner of Social Affairs at the AU Commission, Mrs Amira Elfadil.

    Mohammed said the AU’s commissioner commended the growth and inclusiveness of AFRIMA by reaching out to `many musicians, music producers and creative arts practitioners in general’.

    He said that Elfadi noted that between 2014 and 2016, during which Nigeria hosted three editions of AFRIMA, it “has become a very crucial event and movement of African musicians.’’

    The minister said that the AU’s commissioner also noted that AFRIMA “allows them to establish synergies and work towards the development of Africa’s music and promotion of music in the continent
    and in the international arena.

    “Based on this and other factors such as the willingness to create value and deepen the brand equity not only for Nigerians but also for Africans, the AU returned the hosting right of AFRIMA to Nigeria’’.

    He said that government’s desire to retain the right was informed by the enthusiasm and sense of duty with which Nigerians embraced AFRIMA coupled with the prevailing international confidence in the present administration.

    He said: “the African Union’s gracious concession to our request is beneficial for the creative sector in Nigeria and across Africa.

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria is calling on state governments and corporate Nigeria to partner with it and the African Union in ensuring a
    successful hosting of AFRIMA 2017 which will bring immense socio-economic benefits to the selected host city,’’ he said.

    Mohammed disclosed that the 2017 edition of AFRIMA is scheduled to hold from Nov. 10 to Nov. 12.

    Quoting the organiser of the event, the minister said that it would present to the continent a world-class programme that included activities such as the Africa Music Business Round Table on Nov. 10.

    The round table would bring together big music brands, music producers and intellectual property experts to discuss the needed networks and infrastructure for an expanding economically-vibrant music industry in Africa.

    “Other events are the AFRIMA Music Village: an evening of a non-stop open music festival of live performances from the African stars and nominees, with an expected audience of 40,000 people.

    “The main Awards ceremony on November 12 will present a star-studded and world-class event with live performances and television broadcast to 84 countries on 109 television stations around the world.’’

  • Osinbajo leaves Abuja for AU Summit in Ethiopia

    Osinbajo leaves Abuja for AU Summit in Ethiopia

    The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday morning, left Nigeria for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to participate in the 29th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU).

    Mr Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity (Office of the Vice-President) confirmed this development on his twitter handle on Monday in Abuja.

    According to Akande, the acting president is expected back in Abuja later today .

    The presidential aide posted on the twitter handle as saying: “Acting President will be attending summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He leaves Abuja this morning and expected back later today.’’

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the acting president and other Heads of State and Government of the AU Member states will be attending the opening ceremony of the session at the African Union Headquarters, Nelson Mandela Plenary Conference Hall, at 11:00 am.

    The theme of the summit is: “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in the Youth’’ while presentation on and moderation of the Theme will be handled by Mr Idriss Deby, President of the Republic of Chad.

    Other events expected at the 2017 AU summit include the inauguration of the Road Show for Dot Africa and the Annual AU Gender Score Card.

  • AU launches humanitarian law, policy training initiative

    AU launches humanitarian law, policy training initiative

    The African Union (AU), on Wednesday, launched its first Humanitarian Law and Policy Training Initiative in Livingstone, Zambia.

    The initiative, which is in partnership with the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), has “Transforming Africa’s Humanitarian Architecture” as its theme.

    At the launch, Mr Abdon Mawere, the Zambian Commissioner for Refugees, Ministry of Home Affairs, said the three-day training aimed to address the specific needs and situation of forced displacements in Africa, while maintaining the fundamental principles of international law.

    He said the need for the training was initiated in 2016 by the UNHCR as a key component of AU”s 10-year Plan of Action on humanitarian effectiveness (2016 to 2026).

    He said Africa was facing an increased challenge of forced human displacement from conflicts and natural disasters which had taken heavy toll on human lives and development.

    “So, there is the need to meet and share experiences to know how best to tackle the problem holistically.”

    He also said that Zambia had a long history of taking care of refugees, saying that in 2016, the country had 200,000 refugees from Angola, Mozambique and DR Congo.

    In an opening remark, Lamine Baali, the Ambassador, Saharawi Arab Republic, recalled the instruments and conventions of the AU.

    These include the 1969 OAU Convention Governing Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, the Kampala Convention on Internally Displaced Persons and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to tackle humanitarian problem.

    Baali, who is also the Chair, Partner Representative Committee on Refugees, noted that in spite of the conventions and instruments, the humanitarian problem in Africa was huge and could get worst if unchecked.

    He said the training initiative was therefore to sensitise AU member states and policy implementers to the need for proactive measures to tackle the situation.

    Mr Chanda Cosmos, the UNHCR Representative to AU and Economic Commission for Africa, said the training was to take a closer look at available instruments for African countries to manage migration, forced displacement and Internally Displaced Persons.

    Earlier, Mr Olabisi Dare, the Director, AU Department of Political Affairs, said the union recently adopted a new humanitarian architecture, contained in the  union’s Humanitarian Policy Framework and the Common African Position as blueprint on humanitarian effectiveness in Africa.

    He said the new approach was to move away from norm setting to implementation, emphasising that the African Peace and Security Architecture was basically for warning signs to conflicts and natural disasters so as to mitigate a problem even before it happened.

    He recalled the recent election impasse in The Gambia, where the architecture was positively used to nip an imminent crisis in that country in the bud.

    He reiterated the new AU approach for implementation, saying states should be encouraged to be responsive to humanitarian problems in their areas and to offer solutions to negative occurrences even before they happened.

    “Africans cannot continue to leave the tap open and assume to mop after the flood.

    “We cannot continue to watch things happen and begin to respond afterwards. We should be able to mitigate even before negative things happen,” he said.

    Dare also said that the training was intended to deepen existing understanding of AU instruments on humanitarian problems and to encourage their ratification, domestication and implementation and contribute to effective protection and assistance of forcibly displaced populations.

    The training, which will close on Friday, has as participants AU officials, officials of UNHCR, partners in handling humanitarian situations, foreign affairs ministry officials, ECOWAS and journalists.

  • AU to help African states to reduce food losses

    The African Union (AU), would assist its member states to reduce their post harvest losses, an official said on Wednesday.

    AU Technical Adviser on Food Losses Cephas Taruvinga told an agricultural forum in Nairobi that the continent loses between 20 and 40 per cent of all food harvested annually.

    “The AU would help African states to build capacity to mitigate the food losses’’, Taruvinga said at the First All Africa Post Harvest Congress and Exhibition.

    The four day event brought together researchers, policy makers, government officials as well as the private sector from across the continent to review ways to reduce food losses on the continent.

    Taruvinga said that the post harvest losses are affecting Africa’s dream to achieve food security.

    “If Africa eliminates post harvest food losses it will not require to import food or food aid from the rest of the world’’, he added.

    The AU would help the nations develop policies and guidelines that would assist food producers curb food losses.

    The most affected by food losses are perishable commodities including fruits, vegetables, roots and tubers.

    The continent has already set a goal of reducing post harvest losses by half of current levels by 2025.

    Taruvinga, who is also the Post Harvest Losses Specialists at the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organisation, said Africa needs to improve the level of its investment in agriculture.

    He said Africa had concentrated its efforts on improving food productivity and not on eliminating post harvest losses.

     

  • DotAfrica: Abuja residents commend AU launch of internet domain

    DotAfrica: Abuja residents commend AU launch of internet domain

    Some Abuja residents on Sunday said they were excited about the recent launch of  DotAfrica (.Africa) by the African Union (AU) which aimed at  bringing Africa together as an internet community.

    DotAfrica is a generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) established by Africans for Africa and the rest of the world for better access to e-commerce, technology and infrastructure.

    The domain has been created to give Africans an opportunity to forge a unique online identity which will associate their products, services and information with people in Africa and beyond.

    Some of the individuals who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday shared their views on the African domain that was launched on Friday by the AU.

    Mrs Bukola Adeyemi, a software programmer, told NAN that the creation of dotAfrica was a good step to putting Africa on the digital map which was beneficial for e-commerce.

    “It is nice to see that Africa now has a position on the digital map which would be beneficial to Africa’s development especially with the use of e-commerce; thanks to AU.

    “This means the dotAfrica which is represented as .Africa on the internet would be used in place of the popular dotcom represented by .com when typing an address on the internet.

    “However, this should be made available to only African businesses and internet pages or websites to internationally showcase Africa’s productivity and potentials.

    “It serves the same purpose as the dotUK representing United Kingdom, dotZa for South Africa and dotNg for Nigerian websites.’’

    Similarly, Mr Tonye Jack, who is also a software programmer, said it was high time Africa had its own domain as AU had identified a qualified organisation to ensure the dotAfria domain was successful.

    “I am happy that AU identified the need for Africa to have its own domain.

    “The organisation responsible for handling this new African domain is known as ZA Central Registry and it is located in South Africa.

    “With over 15 years experience, the organisation is responsible for one of the first African internet domains known as dotCo-dotZa (.co.za) which is mainly used by South Africa.

    “AU identified the organisation as the organisation most qualified to handle this new domain. So I am sure they would do a good job in maintaining and managing websites set on the domain.

    “This is a big step for Africa,’’ he said.

    Mr Tekenna Dagogo, a civil servant, said that “this domain creates a good opportunity for Africans to showcase Africa’s potentials which would help attain economic development.

    “And will definitely encourage better online trade and exchange of information between continents which can promote economic development.

    “Although different African countries have their own domain, it is beneficial for Africa as a whole to have a domain of its own represented on the internet to showcase Africa as a whole.

    “This means that organisations that have interest in developing Africa as a whole can stop using dotcom and use dot Africa instead; this will show the focus, target and origin of the organisation.

     

  • African Union: FG intensifies Nigeria’s campaign

    African Union: FG intensifies Nigeria’s campaign

    The Federal Government says it is intensifying campaign for Ms Fatima Mohammed, the Nigeria/ECOWAS’ candidate for African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security.

    Amb. Enikanolaye, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated this in a statement made available to Newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

    Enikanolaye said that Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, the special envoy appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari was leading Nigeria’s delegation in the campaign to African countries.

    He said that the delegation, which was in Ethiopia on Monday, was received by the Ethiopian Foreign Minister, Dr Workneh Gebeyehu.

    Gebeyehu, he said, promised to convey President Buhari’s request to his Prime Minister and was optimistic of a favourable response.

    He said the delegation was also received by the President of Burundi, Pierre Nkurunziza in Bujumbura on Wednesday.

    Nkurunziza, according to him, indicated that Burundi also has a candidate for the same position, but expressed his readiness to support Nigeria’s candidate if the election goes into the second round.

    The president also expressed his admiration for Nigeria and President Buhari’s constructive role in peace, security and development of the African continent.

    Enikanolaye said Onyeama was currently on his way to Angola where he is scheduled to meet with the Angolan President on the issue.