WINDHOEK – Namibia has been appointed as one of 10 members of the Peace and Security Council of the Afican Union (AU) for a two-year term. This means Namibia, together with South Africa, are now the official representatives of the southern Africa region for the next two years.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said the appontment means that more Namibian officials would soon be deployed to the AU headquarters to ensure that the mission is equipped with a sufficient staff complement. “Our term starts in April, it is a huge responsibility hence we will have to boost our mission in Addis Ababa,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah, adding that sending more officials is the only way that Namibia will cope with the non-stop workload of the Peace and Security Council.
The appointment took place at the 22nd Ordinary Session of the AU that ended last week Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Burundi and Chad will represent the central African region, Ethiopia and Tanzania would represent the eastern African region, while Libya would represent the northern African region and Gambia, Niger and Guinea are the representatives of the western African region.
Namibia was also compliment for successfully hosting the eleventh Conference of Parties (COP11) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on climate change in Windhoek last year. Delegates said the successful hosting of the event enhanced Africa’s visibility on issues of climate change. The theme of the AU summit was “Agriculture and Food Security.” The continental body also renewed its commitment to the Namibian Declaration to enhance the implementation of the UNCCD in Africa in order to address land degradation, desertification, biodiversity loss and the effects of drought, and to promote sustainable development on the continent. It endorsed the establishment of an African working group on desertification and sustainable land management.
Discussions on maternal, new born and child health led to the endorsement of a recommendation to establish an annual award to recognize significant contributions or actions of individuals, organisations and governments in Africa towards ending preventable maternal, new born and child mortality, as well as enhancing their survival and well-being, and that the annual award be named ‘Mama Afrika Award’ in honour of Miriam Makeba. On African development goals, especially in the post-2015 period, the AU endorsed the articulation of African development goals consistent with the existing continental frameworks and to serve as milestones for tracking and monitoring progress towards Agenda 2063.
While discussing the report of the high level African Trade Committee on Trade Issues, the AU urged member states and regional economic communities to consider carefully the impact of the negotiations of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements on the African integration agenda, so that they do not compromise the African trade integration process and undermine the vision and scope of the Abuja Treaty. It also mandated the ministers of trade to hold an extra-ordinary session to consider and adopt a work plan and to negotiate modalities and principles towards the effective launch of an African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) negotiations in 2015 to be presented through the High Level Committee on Trade to the next summit meeting in June 2014. Also, when discussing the report of the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the AU reinforced the critical need for financial investments and leveraging public private sector partnerships and in particular welcomed the Africa 50 investment vehicle by the African Development Bank to mobilise adequate funds for infrastructure developments. The assembly further decided that the 23rd session of the Assembly of the African Union will be held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea during June 26-27 later this year.
By Staff Reporter