AU Monitor Weekly Roundup

This week’s AU Monitor brings you news from the Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) sent a delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to study its agricultural policy and “to learn from the ECOWAS experience in the implementation of the policy”. It is indeed the lack of political will to invest in agriculture that the United Nations has claimed is affecting Africa’s ability to halve poverty and hunger by 2015. Also in West Africa, ECOWAS ministers reaffirmed their commitment to negotiating development-oriented Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union. Indeed, the EU has faced resistance from the majority of African, Caribbean and Pacific states in concluding negotiations and is currently attempting to increase pressure on these States to sign the agreements. However, a group of African Ambassadors met to commend the decision of the Assembly of Heads of States of the AU on the agreements which stated that: “EPAs must serve as instruments for the promotion of sustainable development, eradication of poverty and the reinforcement of regional integration in Africa, as agreed in the Cotonou Partnership Agreement”. ECOWAS also this week concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese firm Sinohydro to develop West Africa’s electricity infrastructure. The MOU “requires Sinohydro to provide technical assistance that will enable WAPP to develop expertise in hydropower development, design, operations and power system planning”.

In East Africa, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development held consultations to develop its peace and security strategy, while the East African Community (EAC) held the first regional meeting of heads of national human rights commissions. Further, the EAC continued to hold negotiations on a common market “whose heart lies in securing the free movement of persons, labour, capital, services and the right of establishment and residence.” Finally from regional blocs, the Community of Sahelo-Saharan States is preparing its 10th summit to be held in Benin in May 2008.

At the African Union, chairperson of the AU and President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, committed to finding a solution to the Kenya crisis, for which a political settlement has since been found. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights concluded its fourth extraordinary session in which it deliberated on the situation in Kenya and Somalia, affirming its commitment to send missions to both countries to further investigate claims of human rights violations. Lastly, the Peace and Security Protocol of the AU has been adopted at the national level in Mauritania.