THE PRE-ADF SYMPOSIUM ON THE AFRICAN UNION

Statement

by Ambassador Saïd Djinnit,
Assistant Secretary-General in charge of Political Affairs of the Organization of African Unity (OAU),
on the occasion of the Pre-ADFSymposium on the African Union

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
3 - 8 March 2002

Mr. Chairman,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

When the African leaders agreed in 1999, during the OAU Algiers Summit, to the proposal made by Leader Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, to hold an Extra-ordinary Summit of the OAU on the strengthening of the continental Organization to enable it to cope with new challenges, very few could have foreseen that some months later in September 1999, the same leaders would decide to establish an African Union to replace the OAU. To those who might not be very familiar with the history of the Organization, I believe that it would be appropriate to underline that the Sirte decision was in fact a culmination of a process initiated in the 1980s aimed at adjusting the Organization to the changing circumstances of Africa.

Indeed, in as much as the OAU was considered, and rightly so, to have played a leading and critical role in decolonisation and defence of the freedom and dignity of the African people, there was a realization that the OAU, despite its efforts, has not been able to fulfil the wider aspirations of the African people for socio-economic progress and well-being.

With the qualitative transformation of the agenda of the OAU in the early 1990s, that brought greater focus on the need to promote popular participation, transparency and accountability in governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law, there was growing awareness of the need to adapt the Organization to the new realities prevailing in Africa and the world. The need for a comprehensive review of the OAU Charter became even more evident after the decision, in 1991, to establish the African Economic Community.

This, in a nutshell, is the genesis of the establishment of the African Union, the Constitutive Act, of which, was adopted in Lome in July 2000 after lengthy deliberations within the policy organs of the OAU. Divergent views were expressed ranging from those who wished to maintain the status quo to those who wanted a very advanced form of Union such as the United States of Africa. The nature and intensity of the discussion remind us of a similar debate that took place among the Founding Fathers in 1963 at the inception of the OAU. The Constitutive Act was therefore, a compromise but, in my view, a dynamic compromise.

If I may say, the African Union that eventually emerged is an entity that would have the objectives of the OAU Charter towards forging greater African unity and solidarity as its aspiration, the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community as its vehicle, and the commitment to the values that the OAU has developed over the past years and which are likely to be further developed, as its driving force.

The challenges confronting us are, therefore, enormous and put an onerous responsibility on those charged with the task of establishing the African Union to live up to the hopes and expectations raised by this historic endeavour.

I believe that the Constitutive Act does provide us with the political and legal framework to advance Africa's quest for greater unity, solidarity and socio-economic progress, provided we have a dynamic understanding of its provisions. Clearly, the priority of the African Union should be the speedy establishment of the African Economic Community, but this objective can only be sustained in conditions of peace and security and in an environment where human rights and the rule of law are respected. In order to create such a propitious environment, we need to decisively address the scourge of conflicts that continue to afflict our continent.

There is no doubt that conflicts, more than any other factor, contributed to undermining our efforts at economic development and integration on the continent. It was the realization of the devastating and destabilizing effects of conflicts that prompted our Leaders, in 1993, to establish the OAU Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution. In the same vein, the Regional Economic Communities provided themselves with similar mechanisms.

Since the 1990s, our member States have been engaged in efforts at all levels to address the scourge of conflicts. Our efforts have not always been rewarded with success. Our success story in addressing the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the significant progress made in the peace processes in the Comoros, Sierra Leone and to some extent in Burundi and the DRC give us courage to persist in our efforts. Clearly, more efforts need to be extended towards ending conflicts in the continent. As we must strive to redouble our efforts, we should draw lessons from our experience, build on our achievements and learn from our shortcomings.

One thing we have learnt, is the need to further strengthen our continental and regional mechanisms to enable them to deal more effectively and decisively with conflict situations. Over the years, the OAU Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution has proved to be an essential tool in the continent's endeavours towards conflict prevention, management and resolution. In the process, however, the Mechanism has also shown some shortcomings and limitations, which need to be addressed now that we are reviewing the structures, procedures and working methods of its Central Organ to enhance its effectiveness and relevance, as one of the important Organs of the African Union.

We also need to enhance the cooperation between our mechanisms, based on the principles of complementarity and comparative advantage. Experience has shown that more often than not, the combined efforts of regional mechanisms and the continental mechanism were needed. The cases of the conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone and the DRC were clear manifestations of such a collaborative peace undertaking where the OAU has supported the regions and brought a continental perspective to the efforts, which led to the signing peace Agreements.

We should also seriously consider the need to better harmonize and rationalize the various peace initiatives undertaken on the continent as in many instances, the multiplicity of uncoordinated peace initiatives has resulted in a loss of crucial time and momentum.

In addition to enhancing the effectiveness of and cooperation between our continental and regional mechanisms for conflict prevention, management and resolution, and since most of the conflicts on the continent are within States, we should consider the best ways and means for our individual member States to assume their full responsibility in preventing conflicts. I believe that as we usher into the African Union, which implies and requires greater commitment to peace, security and stability, we should promote greater awareness and preparedness in our member States towards preventing political differences and crisis from developing into conflicts.

Our member States, in general, should develop internal mechanisms that can sustain peace, security and stability based on universally accepted principles and values such as justice, equity, solidarity, inclusiveness, accommodation, fairness, accountability, transparency, respect for the rule of law and respect of human rights. They should also be encouraged to conclude bilateral and multilateral security arrangements such as non-aggression pacts and to adopt confidence-building measures. They should recommit themselves to promote and respect International humanitarian law and abide by African and International Conventions and Treaties on refugees and displaced persons; the illicit proliferation, trafficking and circulation of Small Arms and Light Weapons; the right and welfare of children; the Ban on antipersonnel mines and other relevant international instruments.

In our efforts to address more effectively conflict situations on the continent, we should be encouraged and draw inspiration from the far-reaching principles, which have been included in the Constitutive Act. In this respect, it is worth mentioning that while maintaining the sacrosanct principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of Member States, the Constitutive Act has also made provisions establishing, in essence, the principle of non-indifference to the internal affairs of Member States. The Constitutive Act has specifically provided for the right of the Union to intervene in a Member State in respect of grave circumstances, namely: war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. It has also provided for the right of Member States to request intervention from the Union in order to restore peace and security.

We should also be encouraged by the bold provisions of the Constitutive Act pertaining to respect for democratic principles, human rights, the rule of law and good governance and the condemnation of unconstitutional changes of government. In sum, the Constitutive Act highlights the fact that respect of human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles are first and foremost the concern of Africans. We, as Africans, must assume ownership of these values and take responsibility for promoting them.

I would like to stress that in addition to the central role of government, the process for establishing a solid African Union including, the achievement of its peace, security and democratic agenda, rests on the involvement of the African people and their representatives and depends to a large extent on their invaluable contribution. That is why I believe that this encounter is a clear manifestation of the disposition and determination of concerned Africans, representatives of governments and civil society organizations, as well as African personalities to embrace the African Union as their own business.

I wish to thank most sincerely the organizers of this symposium for this auspicious opportunity.