AU Monitor Weekly Roundup
This week's AU Monitor brings you updates from the African Union, whereas the Commission announces the launching of its 'Panel of the Wise', five eminent regional personalities chosen to advise the Peace and Security Council on conflict prevention and peace promotion matters in Africa. Further, the AU and the League of Arab States held their third consultative meeting to brainstorm on the Revitalization of the Afro-Arab Cooperation and devise concrete activities for the Afro-Arab Development Forum in 2008. Lastly, Participants of the recent EU-Africa Summit present the Lisbon Declaration and resolve to "build a new strategic political partnership for the future, overcoming the traditional donor-recipient relationship and building on common values and goals in our pursuit of peace and stability, democracy and rule of law, progress and development".
In economic news, African countries are succumbing to pressure from the European Commission, signing interim economic trade pacts that are said to fragment regional integration. Also, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) is expressing its criticism after the East African Community (EAC) signed an interim economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the EU, stating that the EAC is "dividing Africa and undermining the continent's integration efforts". Lastly, as criticism grows, the EAC is facing "political seclusion" , but defends itself by saying the interim agreements with the EU were signed to "avoid disruption of trade between the two blocs".
As preparations are being made to transition the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to UNAMID as the peacekeeping force in the region, the groups are attempting to clarify what the functions of various AU mechanisms will be following the shift.
In other peace and security news, the Institute for Security Studies analyses the efforts in establishing the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), highlighting the setbacks of other African peacekeeping efforts and reframing the discussion on homegrown security tactics.
In climate-related news, the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) alliance expressed frustration at the lack of binding agreements arising from the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali . GCAP Campaign Manager Irfan Mufti says "The US has acted like a playground bully in these crucial negotiations" and delaying the development of an agreement on stringent binding emission targets will disproportionately affect the world's poorest people. Further, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has announced plans for its African Centre for Climate Policy Studies to provide African countries with the capacity to respond to climate-related concerns in the framework of development policies.
Lastly, EU agricultural ministers have finally adjusted their sugar pricing rules to adhere to global frameworks, abolishing subsidies that are expected to benefit African sugarcane producers.