AU/OAU 50 Anniversary Rekindles the Pan African Spirit and Hope for the Continent

A photo of the founding fathers of OAU at AU Hall, Addis

Africa has just marked the 50th Anniversary since the African Union/Organization of African Unity was founded 50 years ago on May 25, 1963. The continental organization, for decades known as the OAU became AU in 2002.

The week long celebrations at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia which peaked on May 25, 2013 with the AU Summit bringing together 118 heads of state and governments from both Africa and the rest of the world brought poignant memories of the 1960s of hope after a number of countries attained independence. 

The founding of the OAU in 1963 marked an important turning point for Africa with a number of nationalist leaders who had led their countries to independence from the colonial powers making a determined push for continental unity. 

The first few years were filled with hope and energy that the giant continent would unite and launch into the path of democratic governance, social and economic development. 

Haile Selasie of Ethiopia.

But a few years later, Africa was to witness violent coups and counter-coups, bad governance, ethnic rivalry, plunder of its resources and civil wars which have left the continent wounded. 

But 50 years on, there is renewed hope for Africa despite continuing problems in a number of countries. Military coups are now fewer, virtually all African countries have attained their independence from the colonial powers and some of the most enduring civil wars have ended in peace agreements. 

Patrice Lumumba of DRC Congo

The theme of the 50^th Anniversary Celebrations; “Pan Africanism and African Renaissance” could not have captured the prevailing mood better as there is renewed hope for unity,  peace, democracy and socio-economic development in most parts or countries of Africa. 

True problems continue in a number of countries including Somalia, Congo DRC, Mali, Sudan and Southern Sudan, Central African Republic, among others, but there are also concerted efforts within AU and the international community to deal with both the political and humanitarian challenges through dialogue, which are paying dividends.

Dialogue ended Africa’s longest running civil war in Sudan, resulting in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement which provided for the eventual cession of South Sudan from the Sudan. Teething problems between the two countries have are being dealt largely through negotiations under the auspices of the AU and the regional Inter Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). 

Mwalim Julius Nyerere  of Tanzania

 

 

There is more political, social and economic engagement among African countries both at the bilateral level and within the framework of the various regional bodies such as East African Community (EAC) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), among others.

Africa is redefining its partnership and framework of engagement with the global community, including the US, Western Europe, China, Asia, and Latin America. Challenges remain but clearly, Africa is experiencing renewal.

The challenges of improving governance and democratic rule, service delivery, infrastructure, trade and consolidating unity remain but the 50^th Anniversary was also a time to take stock and plan strategies for moving forward.

Anti- Apartheid icon Nelson Mandela

    

There is growing worry over resurgence of interest in Africa and its resources. There is renewed competition between Western Europe, the US and the Chinese. 

During the AU Summit, there was a large delegation from China and also from the West, competing for attention and lobbying on the sidelines of the celebrations. Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia led an attack on the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of haranguing African leaders. They led the process of passing a resolution calling for the referral of the cases facing Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy, William Ruto to Kenya's courts claiming there was no justice at the global level.

Below: The AU headquarters built with the assistance of the Chinese whose influence is growing in Africa.

African Political Parties Form Continental Council, Elect Zambian Chair

A two day conference of major political parties from 34 African Countries came to a close in Khartoum, Sudan, April 28,2013, with the formation of a continental body  -The Council of African Political Parties - as a platform for a more active engagement in the continent's social, economic and political initiatives  and challenges.

The two day constitutive conference held on April 27-28, 2013 formally launched the Council at the end of the marathon meeting and break- away committees and formed a 30 member Executive Committee consisting of six members each drawn from Eastern, Central, Southern, Western and Northern Regions of Africa.

Political leaders at the Khartoum Conference

Zambian Justice Minister Winter Kabimba who is also the Secretary General of the ruling Patriotic Front was elected the first chairman of the Council for a four year term.

The Council's headquarters and secretariat will be in Khartoum, Sudan with the country providing the Secretary General to steer the organization in realizing its goals and objectives , which they said will include complementing the efforts of the African Union in building peace, security and continental integration.

President Omar Al-Bashir formally opened the Conference on Saturday April 28, with a call to African states to choose its global partners carefully adding that some had shown unchecked greed for the continent's natural resources.

Delegates during break at the Conference in Khartoum

Al-Bashir, who is also the leader of Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP)  recalled the struggles by the founding fathers of Africa adding that it was time the political parties to mobilize the people towards peace and sustainable development to ward off unwarranted external influence.

The conference, which was attended by representatives from the two major parties from 34 African countries discussed and adopted recommendations contained in 4 key working papers prepared over the lasts even months since the initiative was mooted.

The presentations dwelt on four key areas: The conceptual framework of the Council outlining the nature and objectives of the conference, the role of African political parties in enhancing democracy, development and integration, Africa and the 

technological revolution and Statute of the Council of African Political parties. 

The issue of the International Criminal Court (ICC) dominated the conference with both direct and indirect references to it as "a tool by the Western Countries to intimidate" African leaders and states.

The Deputy leader of the Sudanese ruling party NCP Dr.Nafie Ali Nafie said ICC had been rejected by Africans adding that the recent polls in Kenya, which saw two indicted politicians Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto elected president and deputy president respectively was "a vote against ICC".

Senior Sudanese political party leaders attended the conference

The conference was attended by observers which included a powerful delegation from the Chinese Communist Party along with representatives of the Asian Political Parties Council, representatives from Latin America and the Caribbean African Union and diplomats from different countries accredited to Sudan.

African Goverments urged to engage rich North on funding climate change interventions

A Pan African organization involved in advocacy and intervention for mitigation of climate change in the continent has called on African countries to take the issue of climate change seriously in their development planning.

In a message to the African heads of State and governments during the just concluded 50 Anniversary of marking the founding of the African Union (AU)/Organization of African Unity (OAU), Pan Africa Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) called on African governments to adopt proactive measures to reduce the effect of climate change. 

PACJA Program Officer Philip Odongo(right) with journalist Oloo Janak

 “As scramble for resources to fuel global growth redefine Africa’s next phase of socio-political and economic development, the biggest challenge for the continent’s economic take-off is climate change, which threatens to roll back multiple gains attained over the past years,” PACJA said in a statement released in Addis Ababa.

The organization said climate change was defining challenge of African at this time adding that as the continent and its people struggled to pull out of poverty and bring prosperity in different countries, it had become extremely difficult for governments to attain national poverty reduction and sustainable development milestones.

“We find ourselves diverting money earmarked for development to respond to climate-inspired emergencies such as floods, famine, starvation, diseases and death,” the organization said in the statement released to journalists at a press conference on the sidelines of the AU Summit.

PACJA Programs Officer Philip Odongo who addressed journalists in Addis Ababa said Africa had contributed the least to the problem of climate change, yet the continent was now on the receiving end of its impacts due to the incapacity of the African people to adapt.

He said it was unfortunate that as the impact of climate change continued to emerge, those responsible for global warming continued to procrastinate and prevaricate on their obligations.

“Industrialised countries have not met their obligations both in the Climate Change Convention and Kyoto Protocol. We have seen shift of goalposts from meeting to meeting,” he said.

PACJA, he observed, had observed the goings-on within the international climate change dialogue process for the last three years and concluded that the North-South divide which denies poor communities a chance for a better future still continued to permeate the negotiations.

PACJA's Philip Odongo addresses journalists in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

“The future, in our assessment, is quite uncertain as the momentum towards COP20 in Paris coming up in 2015 picks up. The negotiations around Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, which will lead us to the new regime to take effect by 2020 should strengthen the North-South conversation to bearing in mind that solving the climate problem is not a choice, but an urgent duty for all to preserve the health of the planet for the sake of future generations.  

PACJA believes that Africa need to see countries responsible for climate change responding responsibly and equitably and that it is the responsibilities of all countries to act to protect their citizens from climate change. 

According to the advocacy group the forthcoming negotiations on the ADP in Bonn (3 – 14 June 2013), is an opportunity to define an equitable global pathway that sees countries responsible for causing climate change carrying most responsibility to address its causes and impacts.

While efforts were being made by all to take action to cut emissions, PACJA sys it is incumbent on rich countries to take the greater share of action: at the moment it is developing countries, including those in Africa, that are doing more. 

PACJA suggested a five point agreement as a framework for a clear definition of equity that ensures those who have contributed more to climate change take more responsibility with:

• Urgent and sufficient action to stop temperatures increasing above 1.5 particularly by industrialized countries who are most responsible for contributing to climate change. 
•   Commitments from industrialized countries to deliver on climate finance to reach at least $100bn by 2020 including 50% going to adaptation in grant form; action to raise long term sources of finance; and that are new, additional and reliable. 
•  Mechanisms created to address the loss and damage in developing countries will face due to unavoidable warming that threatens to destroy millions of livelihoods of the poor. 
•   Prioritization of food security and small scale farmers who provide most of the food for the continent. 
•  Commitment by industrialized Countries to cut their emission levels by at least 40% by 2020

PACJA says efforts by African countries to invest in climate action were hampered by overstretched budgets focusing on such other key sectors as health, education and security to their citizens.

“By COP19 rich countries must commit the finance that they promised that is new, additional and from their own governments’ budgets.  At least 50% of climate funding should go to adaptation as grants that will not push our countries further into debt,” said PACJA in the statement to African heads of state.

The organization says the important role of the private sector in addressing climate change was recognized, rich countries should not transfer responsibility of delivering climate finance to the private sector who will see no rewards in supporting the most vulnerable people.

PACJA says climate change remains a threat to all aspects of development – including peace and security, there was growing concern that African leaders have not given it the due attention it deserves. Such urgent issues such as security hotspots in Somalia, Nigeria, South Sudan, DRC and Mali, does not mean that the biggest crisis on earth which is Climate Change finds itself at the periphery of priorities in the AU agenda.

“Following the pronouncement by the AU and her member States on developing a strategic work-plan for Africa for the next 3-5 years, we hereby urge the AU to ensure development of a strategic plan to adequately respond to Climate Change in Africa. A strategic Climate Change Plan of Action for Africa is indeed a felt need,” says PACJA.  

AU seat, Addis Ababa, venue of the 50 Anniversary summit

It calls on African states under the AU to establish Climate Change legislation, Policies, Strategies and Action plans and urges AU to provide leadership in this direction to not only address loss and damage but also put into place Climate Change Units in every Ministry to monitor and cushion the African poor from the consequences of Climate Change.  

“We urge the African Union to wake up to this reality and given the subject the necessary political attention it deserves. This will include establishment of climate change Ministries in African Countries, and strengthening the Conference of Heads of States and Governments on Climate Change, which unfortunately became inactive following the demise of the former Ethiopian Prime Minister HE Meles Zenawi,” adds PACJA.

Ends//

MESSAGE TO THE LATE KENYAN SENATOR MUTULA KILONZO

How sad, Lawyer Mutula Kilonzo,

That you are gone, shockingly so soon,

Before you could help implement the constitution,

And its Integrity and devolution provisions,

That you fought so hard to have implemented;

We don’t yet know what sent you to the grave so early

And we may never know for sure, like in other cases before,

But we have a message for you to bravely bear

To the great Kenyans who went before you.

Please tell Pio Gama Pinto, JM Kariuki, Tom Mboya, Robert Ouko,

That the Commissions set up to unravel cause of their deaths,
never yielded any results of their deaths to date,

And most of the witnesses and associated investigators,

Also went, in circumstances that were not any different.

The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC),

That was supposed to help bring change and heal the nation

Has manipulated the views of Kenyan and gone to bed with the oppressors

Tell Jaramogi that, as he wrote many years ago,

It is Not Yet Uhuru in Kenya, 50 year on,

And that despite him fighting so hard to create democratic space,

His son Raila, who suffered long years in detention,

Lost his bid, a third time, again to become the president

And that IEBC and the Supreme Court, did not help either,

In advancing confidence in our democratic growth,

Instead, made the country more deeply divided.

Tell Wangari Maathai, that Raila lost his bid for the presidency,

Partly because he defended the conservation of the Mau Complex

And now we are not sure if Karura will survive much longer

No environmental champion has emerged to replace her.

Tell former ECK Chairman Samwel Kivuitu and his former deputy Kihara Mutu

That IEBC led by Isaack Hassan, did not perform any better,

And are again in the eye of the storm, for failing the digital exams

That this time, Raila took his protests to The Supreme Court,

That gave, in three minutes, a brilliant summary judgment,

 But is now itself crying for justice from the social media bloggers

Tell Jomo Kenyatta, that his son Uhuru,  is back to State House
Where he grew up and got shielded from the experiences of most Kenyans

And that like his father, has settled on a Kalenjin V.P, William Ruto

To bring lasting peace and sort out the land question for good

And make the Kalenjin and Kikuyus, forever sing in solidarity and live peacefully.

Tell Michuki matatu manambas no longer dress in uniform,

And that the famous snake he talked about,

Has bitten many people who have rattled it.

Tell Karume, that his former defense portfolio

Has been given to a woman, Rachelle Omamo,

And that our soldiers are now in Somalia, pursuing the Al- Shabab.

Tell Saitoti and Ojode, that pilot error causes d their deaths

And Kaplana Raval, whose committee investigated their deaths,

Will replace Nancy Baraza as the Deputy Chief Justice
and that finally, Uhuru Kenyatta was elected the president

As former President Moi ably advised Kenyans in 2002,
Mohammed Ali and John Allan Namu of Jicho Pevu finally
Gave us an expose, informing us that the two of them, were killed.

Please tell the late Knut Secretary General Ambrose Adeya  Adongo

Teachers are still waiting for their pay hike he pushed for in 97

And tell Wamalwa Kijana his famous brother Eugene

Got lost and Mudavadi was named “madimoni” and

So the Luhya community lacks leadership.

Tell Masinde Muliro that Muliro Gardens in Kakamega,

Is now is an open air lodging, and a moral eye sore.

Tell Bishops Alexander Muge and John Henry Okullu,

That the Church lost its moral authority and momentum,

To speak about democracy and reform,

And now peddle falsehood and promote ethnicity

Rest in peace  Wakili Mutula Kilonzo. AMEN!

Media body calls for enhanced security for journalists and respect for labour rights

Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA) has sent a message of solidarity with the media fraternity in Kenya, the Eastern African Region and globally in marking the 2013 World Press Freedom Day being marked on May 3.

In a statement, KCA noted with concern that the Kenyan media environment had over the last one year recorded increasing cases of threats to the safety and security of journalists and general disregard for their labour rights.

At least 25 journalists have reported various forms of threats to their security and safety in different parts of the country over the last six months, the statement said.

Some of these threats have been reported in the media and statements recorded with the police but a number of threats have remained less pronounced but serious enough to undermine the freedom of journalists in the performance of their duties.

The threats have been recorded from security agencies, state officials, political leaders and their supporters, drug traffickers and other actors, in the process creating a climate of fear and intimidation among journalists in the course of their work.

A number of journalists were threatened or treated with hostility during the Tana River Clashes at the Kenya Coast. In Mombasa in late March this year, a journalist with the Star Newspaper, Bernard Wesonga died under circumstances which require further investigations.

Another journalist with the Star Newspaper Habil Onyango was beaten up and his camera confiscated by security forces during the March General Elections in Homabay in Western Kenya while a number of his colleagues in both Homabay and Migori towns in the region also reported various forms of threats in the last quarter of this year.

A number of journalists in North Rift have for some time now been under threat and active surveillance of shadowy groups over the media coverage of the 2007-8 Post Election Violence and subsequent reporting of International Criminal Court (ICC) related cases and proceedings.

There have been renewed threats to some of the journalists in that region after the March 4, General Elections following the election of Uhuru Kenyatta as president and William Ruto as his deputy. The two are currently facing charges at the ICC and the earlier threats were related to their cases.

KCA urges the Uhuru-Ruto government to guarantee the safety and security of all the journalists who may have reported or will continue to report on the ICC cases and to take urgent measures to investigate any threats, both past and present against the journalists, and deter any overzealous supporters who may take advantage of their being in power to intimidate journalists.

Investigative reporters, KTN’s Mohammed Ali and John Allan Namu have recently received death threats following an exposé on the station which showed a possible foul play in the death of former internal security minister and his deputy George Saitoti and Orwa Ojode respectively.

A reporter with Radio Jambo in Western Province, Oti Oteba, was beaten up by supporters of a local politician. The same youths had also targeted a local reporter with the Star John Nalianya who escaped the beating by hiding in a nearby restaurant. These are not the only cases.

KCA is concerned that Media employers in Kenya have consistently disregarded labour laws in their employment of journalists, in the process undermining their dignity as workers and their capacity to do their work.

Most journalists, both in the newsrooms and the field, are not offered living wages and insurance cover even when covering conflicts. Many are not paid at all despite their valuable contribution, making them vulnerable to corruption and other forms of inducements.

During the last General Elections, a number of media houses either sent their journalists or newly engaged ones on assignment to different parts of the country with minimal or no facilitation, which resulted in frustrations and indignity.

KCA called on Kenyan media owners and employers to begin to take greater responsibility for the journalists they engage, whether on temporary or permanent basis and stop the ongoing wanton exploitation and abuse of journalists as workers. They should immediately implement the 14 % wage increase awarded by the president during the Labour Day on May 1.

The association called on the National Government and the newly inaugurated County Governments to respect the country’s constitution and International charters with regard to media freedom and access to information to enable journalists discharge their important duty of information dissemination and education to the communities.