NEWSLETTER ISSUE No1 - Agenda 2063

"A global strategy to optimize the use of Africa's resources for the benefit of all Africans"
AGENDA 2063 NEWSLETTER
ISSUE No 1: MAY 2013 TO JAN 2014
OUTLINE
A WORD FROM THE AUC
CHAIRPERSON: AFRICA IN 2063, AN
EMAIL FROM THE FUTURE
PAGE 2
EDITORIAL BY MANDLA MADONSELA
PAGE 8
SUMMARY OF THE 50TH OAU/AU
ANNIVERSARY SOLEMN DECLARATION
PAGE 9
AGENDA 2063: KEY FEATURES,
RATIONALE AND VALUE ADDED
PAGE 10
MEMBER STATES INITIATIVES :
Example of Namibia
PAGE 16
INTERVIEW WITH MARIA EUGÉNIA
NETO, WIDOW OF DR. ANTÓNIO
AGOSTINHO NETO, FOUNDER OF THE
POPULAR REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA
PAGE 17
PHOTO ALBUM
PAGE 22
UPCOMING EVENTS
PAGE 25
ARTICLES
PAGE 34
THE 50TH OAU/AU ANNIVERSARY
SOLEMN DECLARATION
DECLARATION DU CINQUANTENAIRE DE
L’OUA/UA
1
PAGE 40
A WORD FROM THE AU CHAIRPERSON
Email from the Future, By Nkosazana Clarisse Dlamini Zuma
During the Ministerial retreat of the Executive Council of the African
Union held in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, from 24th to 26th January 2014,
the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
outlined her vision for Africa in 50 years’ time, through “an email from
the future”.
Written to a hypothetical Kwame in the year 2063:
Au cours de la Retraite ministérielle du Conseil exécutif de l’Union
africaine qui s’est déroulée à Bahir Dar, Éthiopie, du 24 au 26 janvier
2014, la Président de la Commission de l’UA, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini
Zuma a exposé sa vision pour l’Afrique dans 50 ans, à travers “L’email
du Futur”.
Adressé en l’an 2063, à un ami fictif nommé Kwamé.
Date:
To:
From: Subject:
Date : Le 24 janvier 2063
À : Kwame@iamafrican.com
De : Nkosazana@cas.gov
Objet : Unité africaine
24 January 2063
Kwame@iamafrican.com
Nkosazana@cas.gov
African Unity
My dear friend Kwame,
Mon cher ami Kwame,
Greetings to the family and friends, and good health and best wishes
Mes salutations aux parents et amis, et mes meilleurs voeux de bonne
for 2063.
santé pour 2063.
I write to you from the beautiful Ethiopian city of Bahir Dar,
located on Lake Tana, as we finalize preparations for the Centenary
celebrations of the Organisation of African Unity, which became the
African Union in 2002 and laid the foundation for what is now our
Confederation of African States (CAS).
Je vous écris de la belle ville éthiopienne de Bahir Dar, aux environs
du lac Tana, alors que nous finalisons les préparatifs des célébrations
du Centenaire de l’Organisation de l’unité africaine devenue l’Union
africaine en 2002, qui a jeté les bases de ce qui est maintenant notre
Confédération des États de l’Afrique (CAS).
Yes, who would have thought that the dream of Kwame Nkrumah Oui, qui aurait pensé que le rêve de Kwame Nkrumah et de sa génération,
and his generations, when they called in 1963 on Africans to unite or lorsqu’en 1963 ils ont appelé les Africains à s’unir ou périr, deviendrait
un jour une réalité ? Et quelle réalité grandiose!
perish, would one day become a reality. And what a grand reality.
At the beginning of the twenty first century, we used to get irritated
with foreigners when they treated Africa as one country: as if we
were not a continent of over a billion people and 55 sovereign
states! But, the advancing global trend towards regional blocks,
reminded us that integration and unity was the only way for
Africa to leverage its competitive advantage.
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Au début du XXIe siècle, nous nous irritions de ce que les étrangers
considéraient l’Afrique comme un pays : comme si nous n’étions pas
un continent de plus d’un milliard d’habitants et constitué de 55 États
souverains ! Mais, l’évolution de la tendance mondiale en faveur des blocs
régionaux nous a rappelé que l’intégration et l’unité sont le seul moyen
pour l’Afrique de tirer parti de son avantage concurrentiel.
In fact, if Africa was one country in 2006, we would have been the
10th largest economy in the world! However, instead of acting as one,
with virtually every resource in the world (land, oceans, minerals,
energy) and over a billion people, we acted as fifty-five small and
fragmented individual countries. The bigger countries that should
have been the locomotives of African integration, failed to play their
role at that time, and that is part of the reasons it took us so long.
We did not realize our power, but instead relied on donors, that we
euphemistically called partners.
En fait, si l’Afrique était un pays en 2006, nous aurions été la 10e
puissance économique du monde ! Cependant, au lieu de nous unir
dans l’action, alors que nous possédions pratiquement toutes les
ressources du monde (les terres, les océans, les minéraux, l’énergie) et
avions une population de plus d’un milliard d’habitants, nous avons
agi comme cinquante-cinq petits pays individuels fragmentés. Les
plus grands pays qui auraient dû être les locomotives de l’intégration
africaine n’ont pas joué leur rôle à ce moment-là, et c’est une des
raisons qui explique tout le temps pris pour arriver où nous sommes
aujourd’hui. Nous n’avons pas usé de notre puissance, mais nous nous
That was the case in 2013, but reality finally dawned and we had long sommes plutôt appuyés sur les bailleurs de fonds qui nous appellent
debates about the form that our unity should take: confederation, a par euphémisme partenaires.
united states, a federation or a union.
C’était le cas en 2013. Maintenant, nous avons enfin pris conscience
As you can see, my friend, those debates are over and the
Confederation of African States is now twelve years old, launched
in 2051.
What was interesting was the role played by successive generations
of African youth. Already in 2013 during the Golden Jubilee
celebrations, it was the youth that loudly questioned the slow
progress towards integration. They formed African Union Clubs in
schools and universities across the continent, and linked with each
other on social media. We thus saw the grand push for integration,
for the free movement of people, for harmonization of education
and professional qualifications, with the Pan African University
and indeed the university sector and intelligentsia playing an
instrumental role.
de la réalité et avons eu de longs débats sur la forme que nous
voulions donner à notre unité : une Confédération, des États unis,
une fédération ou un syndicat.
Comme vous pouvez le voir, mon ami, ces débats ont pris fin et la
Confédération des États d’Afrique a été lancée en 2051, il y a douze
ans.
Le plus intéressant était le rôle joué par des générations successives de
jeunes africains. Déjà en 2013, lors des célébrations du Jubilé d’or, ce
sont les jeunes qui ont exprimé leur impatience face à la lenteur des
progrès sur la voie de l’intégration. Ils ont formé des Clubs de l’union
africaine dans les écoles et les universités à travers le continent et ont
créé des liens les uns avec les autres par le biais des médias sociaux.
Nous avons donc assisté à un important mouvement en faveur de
l’intégration, de la libre circulation des personnes, de l’harmonisation
We were a youthful continent at the start of the 21st century, but de l’éducation et des qualifications professionnelles. L’Université
as our youth bulge grew, young men and women became even more panafricaine et le secteur universitaire et l’intelligentsia jouent un
active, creative, impatient and assertive, often telling us oldies that rôle déterminant dans ce processus.
they are the future, and that they (together with women) form the
Nous étions un continent jeune au début du 21e siècle, mais avec
largest part of the electorates in all our countries!
l’explosion démographique de jeunes, les jeunes hommes et les
Of course this was but one of the drivers towards unity. The jeunes femmes sont devenus encore plus actifs, créatifs, impatients
accelerated implementation of the Abuja Treaty and the creation et sûrs d’eux-mêmes, nous disant souvent à nous, plus âgés, qu’ils
of the African Economic Community by 2034 saw economic représentent l’avenir, et qu’ils (conjointement avec les femmes)
forment la plus grande partie de l’électorat de tous nos pays !
integration moved to unexpected levels.
Economic integration, coupled with infrastructure development,
saw intra-Africa trade mushrooming, from less than 12% in 2013 to
almost 50% by 2045. This integration was further consolidated with
the growth of commodity exchanges and continental commercial
giants. Starting with the African pharmaceutical company, Pan
African companies now not only dominate our domestic market of
over two billion people, but they have overtaken multi-nationals
from the rest of the world in their own markets.
Even more significant than this, was the growth of regional
manufacturing hubs, around the beneficiation of our minerals and
natural resources, such as in the Eastern Congo, North-Eastern
Angola and Zambia’s copper belt and at major Silicon valleys in
Kigali, Alexandria, Brazzaville, Maseru, Lagos and Mombasa, to
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Bien sûr, ce n’était là qu’un des moteurs de l’unité. La mise en
oeuvre accélérée du Traité d’Abuja et la création de la Communauté
économique africaine en 2034 ont entrainé une progression
spectaculaire de l’intégration économique.
L’intégration économique, associée au développement des
infrastructures, a vu la multiplication des échanges intra-africains
qui sont passés de moins de 12 % en 2013 à près de 50 % en 2045.
Cette intégration a été davantage renforcée par la croissance des
échanges de produits de base et la présence de géants commerciaux
africains. Commençant par l’entreprise pharmaceutique africaine,
les entreprises panafricaines dominent non seulement notre marché
intérieur de plus de deux milliards de personnes à présent, mais elles
ont dépassé les multinationales du reste du monde sur leurs propres
marchés.
mention but a few such hubs.
My friend, Africa has indeed transformed herself from an
exporter of raw materials with a declining manufacturing sector
in 2013, to become a major food exporter, a global manufacturing
hub, a knowledge centre, beneficiating our natural resources
and agricultural products as drivers to industrialization.
Pan African companies, from mining to finance, food and
beverages, hospitality and tourism, pharmaceuticals, fashion,
fisheries and ICT are driving integration, and are amongst the
global leaders in their sectors.
We are now the third largest economy in the world. As the
Foreign Minister’s retreat in Bahir Dar in January 2014
emphasised, we did this by finding the balance between
market forces and strong and accountable developmental
states and Regional Economic Communities (RECS) to drive
infrastructure, the provision of social services, industrialization
and economic integration.
Let me recall what our mutual friend recently wrote:
“The (African) agrarian revolution had small beginnings. Successful
business persons (and local governments) with roots in the rural
areas started massive irrigation schemes to harness the waters of the
continent’s huge river systems. The pan-African river projects - on
the Congo, the Nile, Niger, Gambia, Zambezi, Kunene, Limpopo
and many others – financed by Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)
that involved African and BRIC investors, as well as the African
Diaspora, released the continent’s untapped agricultural potential.
By the intelligent application of centuries-old indigenous
knowledge, acquired and conserved by African women who have
tended crops in all seasons, within the first few years bumper
harvests were being reported. Agronomists consulted women about
the qualities of various grains – which ones survived low rainfalls
and which thrived in wet weather; what pests threatened crops
and how could they be combated without undermining delicate
ecological systems.
The social impact of the agrarian revolution was perhaps the most
enduring change it brought about. The status of women, the tillers of
the soil by tradition, rose exponentially. The girl child, condemned
to a future in the kitchen or the fields in our not too distant past, now
has an equal chance of acquiring a modern education (and owning
a farm or an agribusiness). African mothers today have access to
tractors and irrigation systems that can be easily assembled.
The producers’ cooperatives, (agribusinesses) and marketing boards
these women established help move their produce and became the
giant food companies we see today.’
We refused to bear the brunt of climate change and aggressively
moved to promote the Green economy and to claim the Blue
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Le plus important de tous ces progrès, c’est la croissance des centres de
fabrication régionaux pour la valorisation de nos ressources minérales
et naturelles, comme dans l’est du Congo, au nord-est de l’Angola et
dans la ceinture de cuivre de Zambie et les grandes vallées de silicium
de Kigali, d’Alexandrie, de Brazzaville, de Maseru, de Lagos et de
Mombasa, pour n’en citer que quelques-uns.
Mon ami, l’Afrique s’est en effet transformée, passant d’un exportateur
de matières premières avec un secteur manufacturier en déclin en 2013,
à un exportateur de produits alimentaires, une plateforme mondiale
de production industrielle, un centre de connaissances, en valorisant
nos ressources naturelles et nos produits agricoles comme moteurs de
l’industrialisation.
Les Entreprises panafricaines, allant de l’extraction, des finances, des
produits alimentaires et des boissons, de l’hôtellerie et du tourisme, des
produits pharmaceutiques, de la mode, de la pêche et des TIC, stimulent
l’intégration et font partie des leaders mondiaux dans leurs secteurs.
Nous sommes à présent la troisième puissance économique mondiale.
Comme le soulignait la retraite des ministres des Affaires étrangères
à Bahir Dar en janvier 2014, nous y sommes parvenus en trouvant
l’équilibre entre les forces du marché, des États développementistes
forts et responsables et des CER, pour donner une impulsion aux
infrastructures, à la prestation de services sociaux, à l’industrialisation
et à l’intégration économique.
Permettez-moi de rappeler ce que notre ami commun a récemment
écrit : « la révolution agraire (africaine) a eu des débuts modestes.
Des entrepreneurs connaissant la réussite (et les gouvernements
locaux) ayant des racines dans les zones rurales ont lancé de vastes
programmes d’irrigation afin d’exploiter les eaux des vastes systèmes
hydrographiques du continent. Les projets panafricains de bassins
fluviaux - sur le Congo, le Nil, le Niger, la Gambie, le Zambèze, le
Kunene, le Limpopo et bien d’autres - financés par les PPP avec la
participation de l’Afrique et des investisseurs BRIC, ainsi que de
la diaspora africaine, ont libéré le potentiel agricole inexploité du
continent. Grâce à l’application intelligente des connaissances indigènes
séculaires acquises et conservées par les femmes africaines qui se sont,
de tout temps, occupées des cultures, des récoltes exceptionnelles ont
été signalées dès les premières années. Les agronomes ont consulté les
femmes sur la qualité des différentes graines – celles qui ont survécu
aux faibles chutes de pluie et celles qui ont bien poussé par temps
pluvieux ; les types de maladies qui ravagent les cultures et comment
les combattre sans nuire à l’équilibre des systèmes écologiques.
L’impact social de la révolution agraire a sans doute été le changement
le plus durable qu’elle a suscité. Le statut des femmes, des travailleurs
de la terre par tradition s’est amélioré de façon exponentielle. La fillette
condamnée à passer sa vie dans la cuisine ou dans les champs dans un
passé pas trop lointain, a maintenant, comme le garçon, la possibilité
d’acquérir une éducation moderne (et de posséder une ferme ou une
entreprise agroalimentaire). Aujourd’hui, les mères africaines ont
accès aux tracteurs et aux systèmes d’irrigation pouvant être facilement
assemblés.
economy as ours. We lit up Africa, the formerly dark continent,
using hydro, solar, wind, geo-thermal energy, in addition to fossil
fuels.
And, whilst I’m on the Blue economy, the decision to form Africawide shipping companies, and encourage mining houses to ship
their goods in vessels flying under African flags, meant a major
growth spurt. Of course the decision taken in Dakar to form an
African Naval Command to provide for the collective security of
our long coastlines, certainly also helped.
Let me quote from our mutual friend again:
‘Africa’s river system, lakes and coast lines abound with tons of
fish. With funding from the different states and the Diaspora,
young entrepreneurs discovered… that the mouths of virtually all
the rivers along the east coast are rich in a species of eel considered
a delicacy across the continent and the world.
Clever marketing also created a growing market for Nile perch,
a species whose uncontrolled proliferation had at one time
threatened the survival of others in Lake Victoria and the Nile.
Today Namibia and Angola exploit the Benguela current, teaming
with marine life, through the joint ventures funded by sovereign
funds and the African Development Bank.”
On the east coast, former island states of Seychelles, Comoros,
Madagascar and Mauritius are leading lights of the Blue
economy and their universities and research institutes attract
marine scientists and students from all over the world.
Dear friend, you reminded me in your last e-mail how some
magazine once called us ‘The hopeless continent’, citing conflicts,
hunger and malnutrition, disease and poverty as if it was a
permanent African condition. Few believed that our pledge in the
50th Anniversary Declaration to silence the guns by 2020 was
possible. Because of our firsthand experience of the devastation of
conflicts, we tackled the root causes, including diversity, inclusion
and the management of our resources.
If I have to single out one issue that made peace happen, it was our
commitment to invest in our people, especially the empowerment
of young people and women. By 2013 we said Africa needed a
skills revolution and that we must change our education systems
to produce young people that are innovative and entrepreneurial
and with strong Pan African values.
Les coopératives de producteurs (agro-industries) et les offices de
commercialisation créés par ces femmes ont permis d’accroitre leur
production et sont devenus les géants alimentaires que nous voyons
aujourd’hui.
Nous avons refusé de faire les frais des changements climatiques et avons
activement fait la promotion de l’économie verte, faisant de l’économie
bleue notre cheval de bataille. Nous avons éclairé l’Afrique, continent
autrefois sombre, au moyen de l’énergie hydraulique, solaire, éolienne,
géothermique, en plus des combustibles fossiles.
Parlant de l’économie bleue, la décision de former des compagnies
maritimes à l’échelle continentale et d’encourager les sociétés minières
à expédier leurs marchandises par des navires battant pavillon africain
signifiait une importante poussée de croissance. Bien sûr, la décision
prise à Dakar de créer un Commandement des forces navales africaines
afin d’assurer la sécurité collective de nos longues côtes y a certainement
également contribué.
Permettez-moi une fois de plus de citer notre ami commun : « Le système
des bassins fluviaux africain, les lacs et les côtes abondent de poissons.
Grâce au financement des différents États et de la diaspora, les jeunes
entrepreneurs ont découvert que les embouchures de pratiquement toutes
les rivières de la côte Est sont riches en espèces d’anguilles considérées
comme une délicatesse à travers le continent et dans le monde.
Un marketing adroit a également créé un marché en croissance pour la
perche du Nil, une espèce dont la prolifération incontrôlée eu, à un moment,
menacé la survie d’autres espèces dans le lac Victoria et dans le Nil.
La Namibie et l’Angola exploitent aujourd’hui le courant de Benguela
regorgeant d’espèces marines, à travers des projets communs financés par
des fonds souverains et la Banque africaine de développement ».
Sur la côte Est, les anciens États insulaires des Seychelles, des Comores, de
Madagascar et de Maurice sont chefs de file en matière d’économie bleue et
leurs universités et instituts de recherche attirent les spécialistes des sciences
de la mer et les étudiants du monde entier.
Cher ami, vous m’avez rappelé dans votre dernier e-mail qu’un magazine
nous a une fois appelé « Le continent sans espoir », citant les conflits, la
faim et la malnutrition, la maladie et la pauvreté comme si c’était un état
permanent de l’Afrique. Peu de personnes croyaient en notre engagement
pris dans la Déclaration du cinquantième anniversaire de faire taire les
armes en 2020. En raison de notre expérience directe de la dévastation
résultant des conflits, nous nous sommes attaqués aux causes profondes,
notamment la diversité, l’inclusion et la gestion de nos ressources.
From early childhood education, to primary, secondary, technical,
vocational and higher education – we experienced a true
renaissance, through the investments we made, as governments
and the private sector in education and in technology, science,
research and innovation.
Si je ne devais relever qu’une seule question qui a fait de la paix une réalité,
ce serait notre engagement à investir dans nos peuples, en particulier
l’autonomisation des jeunes et des femmes. Nous avons dit en 2013 que
l’Afrique avait besoin d’une révolution en matière de compétences et que
nous devions changer nos systèmes éducatifs pour former des jeunes qui
ont le sens de l’innovation et l’entreprise et possèdent de fortes valeurs
panafricaines.
Coupled with our concerted campaigns to eradicate the major
De l’éducation de la petite enfance, à l’enseignement secondaire, technique,
professionnel et supérieur - nous avons connu une véritable renaissance,
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diseases, to provide access to health services, good nutrition,
energy and shelter, our people indeed became and are our most
important resource. Can you believe it my friend, even the
dreaded malaria is a thing of the past.
Of course this shift could not happen without Africa taking
charge of its transformation, including the financing of our
development. As one esteemed Foreign minister said in 2014:
Africa is rich, but Africans are poor.
With concerted political determination and solidarity, and
sometimes one step back and two steps forward, we made
financing our development and taking charge of our resources
a priority, starting with financing the African Union, our
democratic elections and our peacekeeping missions.
The Golden Jubilee celebrations were the start of a major
paradigm shift, about taking charge of our narrative.
Agenda 2063, its implementation and the milestones it set, was
part of what brought about this shift. We developed Agenda
2063 to galvanize and unite in action all Africans and the
Diaspora around the common vision of a peaceful, integrated and
prosperous Africa. As an overarching framework, Agenda 2063
provided internal coherence to our various sectoral frameworks
and plans adopted under the OAU and AU. It linked and
coordinated our many national and regional frameworks into a
common continental transformation drive.
Planning fifty years ahead, allowed us to dream, think creatively,
and sometimes crazy as one of the Ministers who hosted the
2014 Ministerial retreat said, to see us leapfrog beyond the
immediate challenges.
Anchored in Pan Africanism and the African renaissance,
Agenda 2063 promoted the values of solidarity, self-belief,
non-sexism, self-reliance and celebration of our diversity.
As our societies developed, as our working and middle classes
grew, as women took their rightful place in our societies, our
recreational, heritage and leisure industries grew: arts and
culture, literature, media, languages, music and film. WEB
du Bois grand project of Encyclopedia Africana finally saw the
light and Kinshasha is now the fashion capital of the world.
From the onset, the Diaspora in the traditions of Pan Africanism,
played its part, through investments, returning to the continent
with their skills and contributing not only to their place of origin,
but where the opportunities and needs were found.
Let me conclude this e-mail, with some family news. The twins,
after completing their space studies at Bahir Dar University,
decided to take the month before they start work at the African
Space Agency to travel the continent. My old friend, in our days,
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grâce aux investissements que nous avons faits, en tant que gouvernements
et secteur privé, dans l’éducation et dans la technologie, la science, la
recherche et l’innovation.
Associés à nos campagnes concertées pour éradiquer les principales
maladies, fournir un accès aux services de santé, à une bonne alimentation,
à l’énergie et au logement, nos peuples sont en effet devenus et restent
notre ressource la plus importante. Pouvez-vous le croire mon ami, même
le paludisme redoutable est de l’histoire ancienne.
Bien sûr, ce changement ne pouvait se faire sans l’appropriation par
l’Afrique de sa transformation, notamment le financement de son
développement. Comme l’ont déclaré les ministres des Affaires étrangères
en 2014 : l’Afrique est riche, mais les Africains sont pauvres.
Avec une détermination politique et une solidarité communes, et
faisant parfois un pas en arrière et deux pas en avant, nous avons fait
du financement de notre développement et de l’appropriation de nos
ressources une priorité, en commençant par le financement de l’Union
africaine, de nos élections démocratiques et de nos missions de maintien
de la paix.
Les festivités du Jubilé ont marqué le début d’un changement radical de
paradigme concernant l’appropriation de notre histoire.
L’Agenda 2063, sa mise en oeuvre et les étapes qu’il a fixées ont permis ce
changement. L’Agenda 2063 a pour objectif de mobiliser et d’unir tous
les Africains et la diaspora dans l’action autour de la vision commune
d’une Afrique pacifique, intégrée et prospère. Comme cadre global,
l’Agenda 2063 a permis la cohésion interne de nos différents cadres et
plans adoptés sous l’égide de l’OUA et de l’UA. Il a relié et coordonné
nos nombreux cadres nationaux et régionaux dans une dynamique de
transformation continentale commune.
La planification à l’horizon des 50 ans nous a permis de rêver, de penser
de façon créative, et de devenir parfois fous comme l’a déclaré l’un des
ministres qui a accueilli la retraite ministérielle 2014, en nous voyant
franchir les obstacles immédiats.
Ancré dans le panafricanisme et la Renaissance africaine, l’Agenda 2063
a promu les valeurs de solidarité, de confiance en soi, de non-sexisme,
d’autonomie et de célébration de notre diversité.
Au fur et à mesure que nos sociétés se développaient, que nos classes
ouvrières et moyennes augmentaient, que les femmes prenaient leur place
dans nos sociétés, notre héritage et nos industries de loisirs ont augmenté,
de même que nos arts et notre culture, notre littérature, nos médias, nos
langues, notre musique et notre cinéma. Le grand projet d’Encyclopédia
Africana de WEB du Bois devint enfin réalité et Kinshasa est aujourd’hui
la capitale mondiale de la mode.
D’entrée de jeu, la diaspora, dans les traditions du panafricanisme, a joué
son rôle grâce aux investissements, en revenant sur le continent, dotée
de ses compétences et apportant sa contribution non seulement au lieu
d’origine, mais là où il y avait des besoins et des opportunités.
Permettez-moi de conclure cet e-mail, avec quelques nouvelles de
la famille. Les jumeaux, après avoir achevé leurs études spatiales à
trying to do that in one month would have been impossible!
But, the African Express Rail now connects all the capitals
of our former states, and indeed they will be able to crisscross
and see the beauty, culture and diversity of this cradle of
humankind. The marvel of the African Express Rail is that
it is not only a high speed-train, with adjacent highways, but
also contains pipelines for gas, oil and water, as well as ICT
broadband cables: African ownership, integrated planning
and execution at its best!
l’Université de Bahir Dar, ont décidé de prendre un mois de vacances pour
parcourir le continent avant de commencer leur travail à l’Agence spatiale
africaine. Mon vieil ami, il aurait été impossible de le faire en un mois à
notre époque !
Mais, l’African Express Rail relie maintenant toutes les capitales de nos
anciens États, et ils pourront en effet sillonner et voir la beauté, la culture
et la diversité de ce berceau de l’humanité. La merveille de l’African
Express Rail, c’est que c’est non seulement un train à grande vitesse avec des
autoroutes adjacentes, mais il contient également des pipelines pour le gaz,
le pétrole et l’eau, ainsi que des câbles TIC à large bande : la propriété, la
planification et l’exécution intégrées africaines à leur meilleur niveau !
The continental rail and road network that now crisscross
Africa, along with our vibrant airlines, our spectacular
landscapes and seductive sunsets, the cultural vibes of our
cities, make tourism one of our largest economic sectors.
Les réseaux routiers et ferroviaires continentaux qui sillonnent maintenant
l’Afrique, nos compagnies aériennes dynamiques, nos paysages
spectaculaires et nos magnifiques couchers de soleil, les initiatives culturelles
de nos villes, font du tourisme l’un des secteurs les plus importants de notre
économie.
Our eldest daughter, the linguist, still lectures in KiSwahili in
Cabo Verde, at the headquarters of the Pan African Virtual
University. KiSwahili is now a major African working
language, and a global language taught at most faculties
across the world. Our grand children still find it very funny
how we used to struggle at AU meetings with English, French
and Portuguese interpretations, how we used to fight the
English version not in line with the French or Arabic. Now
we have a lingua franca, and multi-lingualism is the order of
the day.
Notre fille aînée, la linguiste, donne des conférences en kiswahili au
Cap-Vert, siège de l’Université virtuelle panafricaine. Le Kiswahili
est maintenant l’une des principales langues de travail de l’Afrique, et
mondialement enseignée dans la plupart des facultés à travers le monde.
Nos petits-enfants rient encore des difficultés que nous rencontrions avec
les interprétations en anglais, en français et en portugais lors des réunions
de l’UA, comment nous dénoncions le manque d’harmonisation entre la
version anglaise et la version française ou arabe. Maintenant, nous avons
une lingua franca, et le multilinguisme est à l’ordre du jour.
Remember how we used to complain about our voice not being
heard in trade negotiations and the Security Council, how
disorganized, sometimes divided and nationalistic we used to
be in those forums, how we used to be summoned by various
countries to their capitals to discuss their policies on Africa?
Rappelez-vous comment nous nous plaignions que notre voix ne soit pas
entendue dans les négociations commerciales et au Conseil de sécurité,
comment nous étions désorganisés, parfois divisés et nationalistes dans ces
forums, comment nous étions convoqués par les différents pays dans leurs
capitales pour discuter de leurs politiques sur l’Afrique ?
How things have changed. The Confederation last year
celebrated twenty years since we took our seat as a permanent
member of the UN Security Council, and we are a major force
for global stability, peace, human rights, progress, tolerance
and justice.
My dear friend, I hope to see you next month in Haiti, for
the second round of unity talks between the Confederation
of African States and the Caribbean states. This is a logical
step, since Pan Africanism had its roots amongst those early
generations, as a movement of Africans from the mother
continent and the Diaspora for liberation, self-determination
and our common progress.
Comme les choses ont changé ! L’an dernier, la Confédération a fêté vingt
ans depuis que nous avons un siège de membre permanent du Conseil de
sécurité des Nations unies, et nous sommes un pôle majeur pour la stabilité,
la paix, les droits humains, le progrès, la tolérance et la justice dans le
monde.
Mon cher ami, j’espère vous voir le mois prochain en Haïti pour le second
cycle des pourparlers d’unité entre la Confédération des États de l’Afrique
et les États des Caraïbes. Il s’agit d’une étape logique, car le panafricanisme
tire son origine des premières générations en tant que mouvement de
libération, d’autodétermination et de progrès communs des Africains du
continent mère et de la diaspora.
Je conclus cet e-mail et me réjouis de vous voir en février. J’apporterai
quelques-uns des chocolats d’Accra que vous aimez tant et que nos enfants
peuvent maintenant s’offrir.
I end this e-mail, and look forward to seeing you in February.
I will bring along some of the chocolates from Accra that you
so love, which our children can now afford.
Au revoir et à la prochaine !
Nkosazana.
Till we meet again,
Nkosazana.
7
EDITORIAL
AN EYE ON THE FUTURE OF AFRICA IN 50 YEARS
years ahead allowed Africa to dream, think creatively,
sometimes crazy. Indeed Africa needs to think big, begin
to do things differently however crazy it may seem. The
Agenda 2063 is the African renaissance, which is people
centered and will continue to promote ideals of Pan
Africanism. Voices of the people will be heard loud and
far and their aspirations integrated in the Agenda 2063.
As an overarching framework, the Agenda 2063 will, for
the first time, provide an internal coherence of Member
States, regional and continental plans and frameworks,
both current and those developed during the OAU days
into a common continental transformative drive. It comes
at a time when Africa is registering unprecedented
growth rates, coupled with improving governance,
bulging working and middle class, young population and
stronger regional institutions. These and others provide a
solid foundation for the Agenda 2063 to take shape.
BY MANDLA MADONSELA
Dear Reader,
Happy New Year 2014, and welcome to this first issue of
the African Agenda 2063 Newsletter!
This issue, which coincides with the beginning of
the second 50 years since the establishment of the
Organization of African Unity and subsequent launching
of the African Union in 2002, casts an eye on the
future of Africa in 50 years. It comes at the back of a
successful 2013 that resonated throughout the continent
with Golden Jubilee celebrations that paved the way for
Africans to interrogate their Africa in the next 50 years.
Highlights in this issue include a report on the Agenda
2063 consultative process, especially on people’s view
about the Africa they want in 2063, how they will build this
Africa and the role they will play t‎ owards the realization of
this dream. We may not be tempted to condense all the
outcomes of consultations in this issue. We, however, will
concentrate on the main findings coming through these
consultations. This newsletter, which will be issued every
six months, will provide readers with progress made on
the preparation, implementation and evaluation of the
Agenda 2063.
As Africa reflected on its successes, challenges and
lessons of the past 50 years, it brought about an impetus
in them to focus on their Africa in 2063, and begin to
reclaim, take charge of the African narrative and Africa’s
rightful place in the global arena. The Agenda 2063
provides that chance. It also provides a great opportunity
to galvanize and unite in action all Africans on the
continent and in the Diaspora around a common vision
of a peaceful, integrated and prosperous Africa. In her
imaginary e-mail to a hypothetical Kwame delivered at a
Ministerial retreat of the Executive Council of the African
Union in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia on January 24, 2014, the
Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Her
Excellency, Dr Nkosazana Dhlamini Zuma, reminded
the participant of how important the Agenda 2063 helped
consolidate AU Vision. She justified that planning 50
8
Recognizing this importance, the Heads of State and
Government in their 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration
signed during the crescendo of celebrations in May 2013,
reiterated their commitment to make progress in eight
areas of:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
African Identity and Renaissance. ‎
Continue the struggle against colonialism and the right to self-determination of people s‎ till under colonial rule. ‎
The Integration Agenda‎
Agenda for Social and Economic Development‎
Peace and Security Agenda
Democratic Governance
Determining Africa’s Destiny
Africa’s Place in the World
They further pledged that while these ideals form part
of the Agenda 2063 development process, they will
also be integrated in their national development plans.
It is therefore up to us readers to be inspired into taking
part in the development of the Agenda and take charge
and own our aspirations. It is time Africans change their
mentality about themselves in the world and people
around them. Destiny is ours.
This issue also provides interviews with African citizens,
selected press releases and papers in addition to a
road map of what lays ahead in the development of the
Agenda 2063.
In this connection, and finally, I would like to seize
this opportunity to thank all those who made various
contributions to this maiden edition; and invite all our
esteemed readers to continue making such invaluable
gestures in order to make the Agenda 2063 a successful
story!
Get connected, Have your say, Discuss Africa, Vote,
Share a multimedia and Become a Partner by logging
on www.agenda2063.au.int
CELEBRATION OF THE 50TH OAU/AU ANNIVERSARY, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
SUMMARY OF THE 50TH OAU/AU SOLEMN
ANNIVERSARY DECLARATION
In the context of celebrating 50 years of the founding of the OAU, the AU Heads of State and Government
through their 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration adopted in May 2013, while acknowledging past
successes and challenges, rededicated themselves to the continent’s development and pledged their
commitment to make progress in eight key areas:
o African Identity and Renaissance.
o Continue the Struggle against Colonialism and the Right to Self-determination of People
still under colonial rule.
o The Integration Agenda: Implement the Continental Free Trade Area to ultimately establish
a united and integrated Africa;
o Agenda for Social and Economic Development:
o Peace and Security Agenda
o Democratic Governance
o Determining Africa’s Destiny
o Africa’s Place in the World
The AU Heads of State and Government pledged to integrate these ideals and goals in regional and
national development plans as well as in the development of the Continental Agenda 2063, through
a people-driven process for the realization of the vision of the AU for an integrated, people-centered,
prosperous Africa, at peace with itself. The African Union Commission, working closely with the
NEPAD Coordinating Agency (NPCA) and supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), is developing this continental agenda as
requested by the 21st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the
African Union, at Addis Ababa, 26 May 2013.
Full text of the Declaration on page 42
9
AGENDA 2063: KEY FEATURES, RATIONALE AND
VALUE ADDED
I
n their 50th Anniversary
Summit
of
26
May
2013, the AU Heads of
State
and
Government
while acknowledging past
successes and challenges,
rededicated themselves to
the continent’s development
and
envisioned
“an
integrated,
prosperous
and peaceful Africa, driven
by its own citizens and
representing a dynamic
force in the global arena.”
The Summit instructed the
African Union Commission,
working closely with the
New Partnership for Africa’s
Development
(NEPAD)
CoordinatingAgency (NPCA)
and supported by the African
Development Bank (AfDB)
and the United Nations
Economic Commission for
Africa (UNECA) to develop
Agenda 2063.
What?
Agenda
2063
represents
the aspirations of Africans
for a better future, anchored
in achievements, objective
assessments of obstacles and
lessons learned over the past
half century, and premised on
a desire to achieve inclusive
growth, socioeconomic transformation and sustainable
development.
Aims to develop an Action
Plan for the realization of the
AU Vision of a prosperous,
integrated
and
peaceful
Africa. It is a call to action to
all segments of African society
to work together to build a
common future and destiny
based on the AU Vision. It also
takes account of the Solemn
Declaration made during the
Golden Jubilee anniversary of
the founding of the OAU/AU in
May 2013.
Builds on Africa’s strategic
frameworks, e.g., the Abuja Treaty, New Partnership
for
Africa’s
Development
(NEPAD), Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development
Programme (CAADP), Accelerated Industrial Development
of Africa (AIDA), Minimum Integration Programme (MIP),
Program Infrastructure Development for Africa (PIDA), AU/
NEPAD Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action, and Agribusiness And
Agro-Industries Development
Initiative (3ADI), Agenda
2063.
Takes full cognizance of
Africa’s
diversities
and
endowments and promotes
efficient
management
of
diversities and respects each
AU member’s sovereignty and
offers the necessary political
and policy space.
The choice of a 50 year time
must be understood for its
significance in the context
of the Golden Jubilee of the
establishment of the OAU;
and the need for Africa to take
stock of past achievements
and challenges and set its
50 year goals to be realized
when the AU will be marking
centenary celebrations.
Why?
The preparation of Agenda
2063 is both important
and timely for a number of
reasons:
Changing global context.
Globalization
and
the
10
information
technology
revolution
have
provided
unprecedented opportunities
for countries and regions with
the right policies to make
significant advances and lift
huge sections of populations
out of poverty, improve incomes
and catalyze economic and
social transformation.
Building on the NEPAD
experience. National, regional
and global efforts made to
implement NEPAD, unseen
during the Lagos Plan of
Action (LPA) and the Abuja
Treaty, have enabled AU to
build institutions (e.g., African
Peer Review Mechanism
(APRM), etc.), demonstrate
unprecedented commitment to
implementing agreed agenda,
and generate valuable lessons
that present strong foundation
for Agenda 2063. Indeed,
Agenda 2063 is a logical and
natural continuation of NEPAD
and other initiatives.
A more united and strong Africa.
Africa today is more united, a
global power to reckon with,
capable of rallying support
around a common agenda and
speaking with one voice with
demonstrated strong capacity
to negotiate and withstand the
influence of forces that would
like to see it divided.
Strong and well-functioning
regional institutions. Africa’s
regional institutions have
been rationalized and the
eight officially AU recognized
Regional
Economic
Communities Community of
Sahel-Saharan States (CENSAD, Common Market for
Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA),
East African
Community (EAC), Economic
Community
of
Central
African
States
(ECCAS),
Economic Community Of West
African States (ECOWAS),
Intergovernmental Authority
on
Development
(IGAD),
Southern African Development
Community (SADC) and Arab
Maghreb Union (UMA) are
today strong development and
political institutions that citizens’
can count on and Agenda 2063
can stand on.
New
development
and
investment opportunities. Africa
today is faced with a confluence
of factors that present great
opportunity for consolidation
and rapid progress. These
include:
• Unprecedented
positive
and sustained growth
trajectory of many African
countries;
• Significant reduction in
violent conflict, increased
peace
and
stability,
coupled with advances in
democratic governance;
• A rising middle class,
coupled with the youth
bulge, which can act as
catalyst for further growth,
particularly in the consumer
sectors and services;
• Changes in international
finance architecture, with
the rise of the BRICS
(Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa) and
improved flows of Foreign
Direct Investment (FDI).
The need to align continental
frameworks,
improve
coherence and synergy. At the
continental level, the AU has
endorsed several frameworks
to advance the integration
agenda, promote social and
economic development, peace
and security and democracy.
In many cases, these remain
isolated from each other and
sectoral in approach. Agenda
2063 is an important opportunity
to harmonize these continental
frameworks,
improve
coherence and synergy and
lay strong foundation for their
full implementation.
A long-term strategy
The need for Africa to develop
its own long-term strategy to
regain own destiny. Several
regions and countries reflecting
on their long-term strategies
see Africa as an important
continent for their future
prosperity and security. Africa
must therefore develop its own
long-term strategy based on
African aspirations as well as
its people’s ingenuity, creativity
and hard work to regain its own
destiny.
The
factors
outlined
above constitute a unique
opportunity for Africa to
capitalize upon. However,
success
depends
upon
acting in unity, transparency,
willingness and capability
to assess performance and
correct mistakes and build on
successes, placing citizens’
first, and sound governance
and values.
The desire to chart a new
chapter in Africa’s development
and the realization of the
aspirations for a better future
must be matched by renewed
and
sustained
political
commitment as exemplified by
the 50th Anniversary Solemn
Declaration. This can be further
strengthened through:
Participation
11
and
inclusion
of all key stakeholders in
the
conception,
design,
implementation and monitoring
and evaluation of Agenda 2063
as a critical success factor,
which will enhance awareness,
ownership of Agenda 2063
and
strengthen
collective
commitments;
A results-based approach
with concrete targets that are
measurable and can be tracked
and monitored;
Tailoring actions to suit the
circumstances of different
countries; while providing
a general framework and a
common set of goals and
targets, Agenda 2063 also
takes cognizance of Africa’s
diversity, and addresses issues
related to this diversity; and
Ensuring that Agenda 2063 is
an integral part of the African
Renaissance which calls for
changes in attitudes, values
and mindsets to inculcate the
right set of African values of
pan Africanism, self-esteem,
hard work, entrepreneurship
and collective prosperity.
Agenda 2063 Preparation
Process and Methodology:
It involves a two pronged
approach:
A people driven process
anchored in an extensive
consultation process with key
stakeholders at the continental,
REC and national levels, the
general public online based,
and AU organs; and
A technical process: evidence
based anchored in rigorous
situational analysis, review of
planning and policy making
experiences and undertaking
trend analysis and scenario
planning.
Agenda 2063: Progress to date
A draft Agenda 2063 Framework Document
has been prepared in close collaboration
with the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating
Agency, the African Development Bank and
the UN Economic Commission for Africa. This
Framework Document has been considered by
the PRC and Ministerial Council; and decisions
of Council are presented below.
In preparing the Framework Document, the
Commission undertook the following: setting up
of technical support; stakeholder consultations;
review of national medium term plans and visions;
preliminary indicators and base line information;
national and regional level consultations; and
development of a Communication Strategy for
Agenda 2063
Technical Support:
A small Technical Team was established from
early September 2013 drawing upon existing
Commission staff and other support. Additional
support is envisaged from collaborating
institutions in specialized areas – financing,
trends analysis & scenario planning, among
other tasks.
Stakeholder Consultations:
Agenda 2063 consultations commenced in
September 2013 with the primary objectives
of providing participants the forum to share
their vision of the Africa they want in 2063 and
propose goals, milestones, key drivers and
enablers as well as priority actions to be taken.
The meetings were organized in the following
parts:
• Part I involved learning from the
past through a review the African
development experience at the
national, sub-regional and continental
levels
• Part II dealt with looking into the
future through a discussion of the
type of Africa participants want, key
goals, milestones, priorities and
actions they propose.
• Part III involved a discussion of how
to make it happen through exploring
and proposing a broad Agenda
2063 implementation, monitoring
and evaluation framework, as well
as strategies for financing Agenda
2063.
12
To
date the following consultations have
been held: Private sector (12-14 September
2013); African Academics / Think Tanks (1618 September 2013; Planning Experts &
Development Specialists (27-28 September
2013); Civil Society Organizations (30
September – 2 October 2013); Diaspora (8-10
October 2013); RECs and AU Organs (21-23
October 2013); Youth (1-3 November 2013);
Media (9-10 December 2013); Women (12-13
December 2013); and Web based consultations
(continuous and interactive)
Outputs of these consultations include: African
aspirations for 2063’ drivers and enablers;
proposals on “how to make it happen” as well as
risks, threats and mitigation strategies.
Technical
included:
analysis
and
review,
which
• Review of National Plans, Regional
and Continental Frameworks: So far,
plans from 20 member states have been
reviewed with a plan to cover all 54
member states in the coming few months.
Lessons from the review of national
medium and long term plans, as well as
those of RECs and AU Organs including
continental frameworks, for example,
PIDA, CAADP, IADA, Africa Mining
Vision (AMV), African Media Initiative
(AMI), constitutes a major building block
of Agenda 2063.
• Preliminary indicators and base line
information: This aims to establish a
baseline for Agenda 2063 to facilitate
comprehensive situational analysis,
trends analysis, target setting and
monitoring. It involves unpacking the eight
ideals stated by the AU Heads of States
and Governments Solemn Declaration
as well as the Vision; identification of a
set of themes, sub-themes and indicators
that capture the spirit and substance of
the Solemn Declaration and the Vision;
description and analysis of each indicator
in a manner that would enable the setting
of ambitious but achievable milestones
and targets.
• Development of Guidelines for National
and Regional Level Consultations: The
guidelines adopted during consultations
with RECs and AU Organs will facilitate
the preparation conduct and reporting
of the National and Regional level
consultations.
AFRICAN ASPIRATIONS, FOUNDATIONS OF AGENDA 2063,
MILESTONES AND TARGETS, KEY DRIVERS, ENABLERS
AND RISKS; AND THREATS
A
frican Aspirations for 2063 - an
outcome of stakeholder consultations
on Agenda 2063, these are:
€€ A Prosperous Africa based on inclusive
growth and sustainable development,
where Africa, among other things, moves
from current low to middle and high income
status; economic growth is translated into
equitable wealth and employment creation;
and is capable of mobilizing its own financial
resources, reliant on trade not aid.
€€ An integrated continent, politically united,
and based on the ideals of Pan Africanism –
where Africa is fully independent, self-reliant
and integrated that trades with itself; the
African Union Anthem is taught and sung in
all schools and universities, and the African
Union Flag is used by all member states at
all official platforms; speaks with one voice
in international engagements; the values of
the AU and Pan-Africanism are integrated
into the curriculum of our schools; and the
Founders dream or vision of OAU of a united
states of Africa, a union of African states
with: one central bank system and currency;
one central government, president; one
African passport; one continental nationality
including the diaspora is fulfilled.
€€ An Africa of good governance, respect
for human rights, justice and the rule of
law - a continent that is corruption-free
and governed by democratic rules; where
public institutions are at the service of its
people at all levels; with effective grassroots
participation in national development;
and the culture of accountability by all
stakeholders is encouraged.
€€ A Peaceful and Secure Africa - free of
conflict and at peace with itself and secure;
harmony prevails among communities
regardless of ethnicity/tribe, religion, class,
etc.; peaceful but militarily strong to defend
13
its interests and ensures security; the African
Peace & Security Architecture (APSA) is
fully implemented; exercises full ownership
of a united army and navy commanded by
the Assembly of AU Heads of States and
Government.
€€ An Africa with a strong cultural identity, values
and ethics - African people imbued with a
sense of their fundamental cultural unity,
a sense of a common destiny and African
identity and Pan-African consciousness;
and work is vital ethic and value.
€€ An Africa whose development is peopledriven, especially relying on the potential
offered by its youth and women - effectively
addresses the acute needs for education,
health, jobs and opportunities for selfadvancement as well as for democracy and
self-realization; and gender equality and
women empowerment and youth concerns
are effectively promoted.
€€ A
frica as a strong and influential global
player and partner - plays a prominent role
in world affairs with a permanent seat in the
UN Security Council); ascends to a second
biggest economic block that addresses its
own needs and manages its own resources
with substantial rise in its share of world
output and trade; effectively owns and
manages its blue economy; and implements
multilateral agreements it is party too.
The above aspirations in conjunction with the
AU Vision, the OAU/AU 50th Year Golden
Jubilee Anniversary Solemn Declaration,
member states’ medium and long-term plans as
well as technical studies and analytical works
constitute the foundations of Agenda 2063
milestones, goals and targets as the diagram
below illustrates:
The Foundation for Agenda 2063 Goals, Milestones and Targets
To realize African Aspirations presented
above, Stakeholder Consultations identified
also drivers and enablers as well as risks and
threats, which included:
Drivers (factors considered critical for Africa’s
transformation) include:
• Strong political leadership fully
committed
to
development,
democratic rule, equity, justice and
rule of law
• Population dynamics – large
population and urbanization
• Industrialization- value addition and
the shift from export of raw materials
to export of processed goods
• Climate change – adverse impacts
and coping capacities
• Technological change in agriculture,
energy and communications, and
• Markets (domestic and foreign) –
expanding of existing markets and
14
creation of new ones
• Infrastructure development
Enablers – factors that constitute essential
conditions accompanying the drivers
•
•
•
•
Good governance
Policy and legal environment,
Human and institutional capacity,
Responsible and efficient private
sector and media
Key risks and threats - likely disruptive
elements
• Social and economic inequalities;
• Management of diversities;
• Terrorism and organized crime;
• Religious extremism, ethnicism,
• Corruption and nepotism;
• Natural disasters (sudden and
slow onset) and environmental
degradation
THE WAY FORWARD
Agenda 2063 Preparation: Way Forward
In order to consolidate the progress made so far leading to the
finalization of Agenda 2063 Document, further work will include the
following:
• Incorporation of the comments and guidance of the Policy Organs
of the AU into a revised draft framework document which will
form the basis for the preparation of the comprehensive Agenda
2063 document;
• Completion of the review of national and regional plans and
continental frameworks;
• In-depth technical analysis of the base line situation pertaining
to the key goals of Agenda 2063 approved by the PRC and the
Executive Council;
• Trends analysis, prospective studies and Scenario planning of
key strategic thrusts / factors – technology, climate change,
demographics, etc and how they impact on Agenda 2063;
• Further consultations with AU Organs, AUC Departments, Agencies
and RECs to facilitate integration of continental frameworks into
Agenda 2063 and defining the milestones
• Sector specific consultations and analytical work on the feasibility
of targets / milestones and strategies to be incorporated into
Agenda 2063
• Consultations with African Statisticians General to harmonize
indicators for Agenda 2063 with ongoing efforts
• Development / preparation of the Comprehensive Agenda
2063 Document;
• Regional Validation workshops / meetings on Draft Agenda
2063 Document; and
• Final draft Agenda 2063 Document for submission to AU Summit
in June 2014.
15
AGENDA 2063, MEMBER STATE INITIATIVES:
The example of Namibia
Simataa urges proactivity in defining
African agenda - The Namibian
NEWS - NAMIBIA | 2013-10-18
Simataa urges proactivity in defining African
agenda
By Luqman Cloete
The Deputy Minister of Information and
Communications Technology, Stanley Simataa,
has encouraged Namibians to play an active role
in defining African Agenda 2063.
African Agenda 2063 – 50 years from now - aims
at enabling Africa to take full charge of its own
destiny and propel itself into a prosperous and
peaceful future. Simataa said the ministerial lecture
on African Agenda 2063 held at Keetmanshoop
on Tuesday for //Karas Region inhabitants was
the first of a series government plans to hold in
six other regions which include Erongo, Omusati,
Kavango East, and the Zambezi to commence the
consultation process on the future of the African
continent which is also aimed at gathering inputs
from citizenry country wide in defining African
Agenda 2063.
H.E. Hifikepunye Pohamba,
President of the Republic of Namibia
“These consultations are all the more important
because Africa’s development trajectory has often
relied on narratives and paradigms developed by
others and it is long overdue for Africans to reclaim
their own narrative,” said Simataa, acknowledging
that the African Agenda 2063 was drafted without
input of fellow Africans. Furthermore, Simataa
highlighted failure to implement and retain human
capital as the biggest challenges facing Africa.
“resilience and unwavering commitment”.
“Our biggest challenge is that we resolve and
resource to plan but fail to resolve and resource
implementation. We must create a conducive
environment to retain human capital, otherwise
Agenda 2063 will remain an unfulfilled dream,”
Simataa remarked. Simataa described PanAfricanism - an ideology and movement that
encourages the solidarity of Africans worldwide
- as an eternal journey spanning over generations,
urging future generations to travel this road with
“They are the masterminds of wars in Africa, but
let the African people fight to destabilise African
countries. They do not want socio-economic
development of Africans,” said Kimba.
16
Also speaking at the event, Democratic Republic
of Congo Ambassador, Anastas Kaboba Kasongo
Wa Kimba, who doubles up as Dean of the
Diplomatic Corps, shared the experiences of his
country on issues of Pan-Africanism, accusing the
imperialists of funding wars in Africa to destabilise
these countries.
Kimba has advocated for intra-Africa trade and
pushed for the speedy abolishment of visa systems
which would enable all Africans to move freely
within their continent.
The Namibian -
INTERVIEW
Agenda 2063, lessons from the past, adjustments of the present and
planning a successful future!
Maria Eugénia Neto, widow of Dr. António Agostinho Neto, Founder of the Popular Republic of Angola
presente-se pessoalmente – Quem é a Senhora?
hamo-me Maria Eugénia Neto, viúva do Dr. António
Agostinho Neto, Fundador da República Popular de
Angola e seu primeiro Presidente.
Nasci em Portugal, Trás-os-Montes, e tenho duas
nacionalidades: Portuguesa e Angolana.
Sou escritora Infanto-Juvenil e Poetisa.
C
Tenho diversos livros publicados Infanto-Juvenis. Tenho
publicados também: dois livros de Poesia e três
Testemunhos sobre Agostinho Neto: um deles, passandose em Cabo Verde quando era deportado politico, mas
nomeado como Delegado de Saúde da Ilha de Santo Antão.
O meu livro “E nas Florestas os Bichos Falaram...” recebeu
Present yourself - Who are you?
M
y name is Maria Eugénia Neto, widow of Dr. António
Agostinho Neto, Founder of the Popular Republic of
Angola and its first president. I was born in Trás-osMontes, Portugal and I have a dual citizenship: Portuguese and
Angolan. I am a writer specializing on children and youth, and
also a poet.
I have published several books on children and youth. I also
published two poetry books and three testimonies on Agostinho
Neto. One of them relates to events that took place in Cape Verde
when Agostinho Neto was a political deportee, and at the same
time appointed as health delegate to the island of Santo Antão.
My book “E nas Florestas os Bichos Falaram...” (And in the
forests the Bugs spoke)
was prized by the UNESCO
We cannot say
Commission at the FAIR
that the vision of
Dr. Agostinho Neto is
being
accomplished
and Africa is being
restored within the
splendor envisaged by
the poet but...
OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
BOOKS IN THE WORLD,
in 1978, in Leipzig. It was
translated into several
languages. This book of
mine is an elegy of love
to the Angolan people in
which animals, for fear of
17
um Prémio pela Comissão da UNESCO na FEIRA DOS MAIS
BELOS LIVROS DO MUNDO, em 1978, em Leipzig. Foi
traduzido em diversas línguas. Este meu livro é uma elegia
de amor ao povo angolano em que os animais, com medo
da guerra, discutem em Assembleia se devem ficar ou
abandonar o território, mas resolvem ficar e pôr-se ao lado
dos guerrilheiros.
Em 2012 fui Galardoada com o Prémio Nacional de Cultura
e Artes na Disciplina de Literatura.
Como guardiã do espólio de Agostinho Neto, fiz diversas
reedições das suas Obras, dentre elas , o seu célebre livro,
“Sagrada Esperança”, o qual teve, em tamanho de álbum,
uma Edição de luxo em três línguas: português, francês,
inglês, ilustradas por Pimentel Domingues.
Publiquei, postumamente, o seu livro “Renúncia Impossível”,
na altura do seu sexagésimo aniversário.
Neste momento sou a Presidente da Fundação Dr. António
Agostinho Neto.
Durante a Luta de Libertação de Angola, na Tanzânia, dei
a minha contribuição na retaguarda com outras mulheres
de combatentes nas tarefas do MPLA a nós acessíveis, tais
como: programas de rádio para a “Angola Combatente”, a
rádio que era ouvida no país e funcionava como mobilizadora
do povo. Tarefas da Organização da Mulher Angolana (fui
responsável do correio da Organização para o exterior).
Nessas tarefas inseriam-se contactos com individualidades
progressistas, residentes em Dar-es-Salam.
É assim que conhecemos Marga Holness que traduziria para
inglês e prefaciaria a Obra poética,”Sagrada Esperança”,
a obra mais conhecida então de Agostinho Neto, a qual
foi publicada pela Tanzania Publishing House e lançada à
estampa, por Julius Nyerere, na State House.
Foi nessa altura também que escrevi diversas pequenas
war, debated in an assembly whether they should stay or leave
the country, but decided to stay and teamed up with the freedom
fighters.
In 2012, I was bestowed with the National Culture and Art Prize
in the specialty of literature.
As a keeper of Agostinho Neto’s heritage, I ordered several reeditions of his writings, among which, his most famous book “
Sagrada Esperança” (Sacred Hope) which had a size of a photo
histórias sobre heróis do MPLA que circulavam como
materiais de denúncias da guerra colonial, as quais, depois
da Independência, juntei em livros.
Fale um pouco mais do seu esposo, a sua vida, a sua
visão, bem como as suas acções no seu país, na sua
região e no continente?
album, a luxury edition in three languages: Portuguese, French
and English, with illustrations from Mr. Pimental Domingos.
I posthumously published his book “renúncia impossível”
(impossible abandonment) during his 60th birthday.
I am currently the Chairperson of the Agostinho Neto
Foundation.
During the struggle for the liberation of Angola, I gave my
contribution in the rear base, in Tanzania, with other freedom
fighters’ wives in carrying out Movement for the Liberation of
Angola (MPLA) tasks given to us such as the radio programs
“Angola Combatente” (Angola Combatant), a radio program that
people inside the country listened to and served as a conduit to
mobilize the Angolan general public. As for the duties within
the Organization of Angolan Women, I was in charge of the
Organization’s mails to foreign countries. These tasks included
contacts with progressist individuals living in Dar-es-salaam.
That is how we met Mrs. Marga Holness who translated our
documents into English and wrote the forewords of the poetic
book “Sagrada Esperança” Agostinho Neto’s most renowned
work printed by Tanzania Publishing House and launched by
President Julius Nyerere in the State House.
It was during this time that I wrote several small histories on MPLA
heroes which circulated as materials to denounce the colonial
war which I compiled into books after our independence.
Can we know more about your husband, his life, his vision,
and his actions in his country, his region and the continent?
Do you think his vision is being realized?
António Agostinho Neto was born in Caxicane, territory of Icolo
e Bengo, which is around 60 kms from Luanda. His father was a
Protestant priest and a primary school grade 4 teacher, the then
compulsory education.
As we know, the majority of Angolan natives lived under immense
difficulties. That is why, after concluding his secondary education
and before moving to Portugal, Agostinho neto had to work
as a state administration clerk. His parents were educated by
American missionaries who gave them an exquisite education.
Once in Portugal, he enrolled at the Coimbra Faculty of medicine,
where he completed the first three years of medicine which he
went on to conclude in Lisbon. Meantime, while still in Coimbra,
he started to participate in some political and cultural activities
and collaborating in magazines and journals. That is when his
first poems started to emerge in several magazines among which
the Vértice Magazine, which made his name and figure known.
Back to Lisbon, he was several times arrested by “PIDE”, the
18
António Agostinho Neto nasceu em Caxicane, terras de
Icolo e Bengo, ou seja, a 60kms de Luanda. Seu pai foi
um Pastor Protestante que, além das práticas religiosas,
ensinou alunos que levou a exame da 4ª classe, o ensino
obrigatório de então.
Como nós sabemos a maior parte dos naturais de Angola
vivia com bastantes dificuldades. É assim que depois de
feita a escola secundária, antes de embarcar para Portugal,
Agostinho Neto trabalhou nos serviços administrativos do
Estado.
Os seus pais foram educados pelos missionários americanos
os quais lhes deram uma educação primorosa.
Uma vez em Portugal, inscreve-se na Faculdade de
Medicina de Coimbra, e aí completa os três primeiros anos
de medicina tendo, todavia, terminado o Curso em Lisboa.
No entanto, uma vez em Coimbra, começou a participar em
actividades político-culturais, colaborando em revistas e
jornais, começando a aparecer os seus primeiros poemas
em diversas revistas, entre as quais a Revista Vértice,
tornando-se notável esta Figura.
Regressado a Lisboa, é
preso diversas vezes
Não poderemos
pela polícia secreta
dizer que a sua visão
portuguesa
“PIDE”,
esteja a ser realizada
acusado de actividades
e que a África ressurja
subversivas contra a
no esplendor almejado
Segurança do Estado.
do Poeta mas...
De 1955 a 1957,esteve
encarcerado na cadeia
Portuguese Secret Police which accused him of subversive
activities against the state security. From 1955 to 1957 he
was incarcerated in Porto alongside 55 Portuguese young
progressists who were fighting against fascism and the
colonial war. He was lucky that a robust global campaign for
his freedom was launched by some influential writers and
artists. He was on the verge of not concluding his course of
medicine, the objective that brought him to Portugal. Freed
from prison in June 1957, he concluded his course in October
1958 and got married with Maria Eugenia da Silva, the young
girl who helped him while he was in prison from 1955 to
1957.
He went back to Luanda at the end of 1959 with his wife
Maria Eugenia and son Mario Jorge who was only few weeks
old. Once in Angola he began his work of uniting Angolan
nationalists and creating awareness of the future battles that
needed to be fought for the independence of Angola. This
took him back to prison and the point of being deported on 8
June 1960 to the Island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde, as health
delegate, being the only medical doctor for a population of
30.000 inhabitants. On 17 September 1962, he was again
arrested and transferred to the prison of Aljube, Portugal. His
provisional release after 6 months provided the opportunity
for the Portuguese Communist Party to organize his escape
to Morocco.
From Morocco he went to Congo Kinshasa where the MPLA
Office was located and was subsequently elected MPLA’s
President during a Conference of its militants. That was the
beginning of his leadership of MPLA and its political and
military struggle as Commander in Chief of the guerrilla
forces.
The context of the Angolan war of liberation was very
difficult. The MPLA as a progressist force and Agostinho Neto
as its leader registered several victories but also suffered a
lot of pressure and setbacks committed by neocolonialists.
Agostinho Neto was “too much” of a nationalist. Wary that
the struggle for liberation could end up benefiting a handful
of people, he proclaimed that “this process should not be
only for the elite, but a process in which all our people can
participate”
Agostinho Neto wanted Angola to be a nonaligned country.
This option did not please many people including within
the MPLA itself which was plagued by intrigue by a group of
militants who, often, confused the skin color of certain people
with the enemy. There was therefore a need to make clear,
during political meetings, who was the enemy. It was in that
crucial moment for the MPLA that Agostinho Neto wrote his
famous speech “Who is the Enemy?” which he delivered to the
students and professors at the University of Dar-es-salaam. It
is a historic speech which pinpoints the difficulties of Africa
to rediscover itself by not allowing any confusion to set in, but
clearly identify who the enemy is.
19
do Porto com mais 55 jovens progressistas portugueses que
lutavam contra o fascismo e o fim da guerra colonial. Valeulhe ter uma grande campanha internacional a seu favor dos
maiores escritores e artistas mundiais para que fosse posto
em liberdade. Por um pouco não terminaria o seu curso de
medicina, o objectivo que o levou a Portugal. Saído da prisão
em Junho de 1957, terminaria o seu curso em 27 de Outubro
de 1958 e casaria com Maria Eugénia da Silva, a jovem que o
apoio na cadeia durante todo o percurso de 1955 a 1957.
Em Fins de 1959, regressa a Luanda com a sua esposa
Maria Eugénia e o seu filho Mário Jorge, de apenas algumas
semanas. Uma vez em Angola, começa o seu trabalho de
unidade e consciencialização junto do povo para as futuras
lutas que teriam de iniciar para Independência. Isso levá-lo-ia
de novo à cadeia, e a 8 de Junho de 1960 é preso e deportado
para Cabo Verde, para a Ilha de Santo Antão como Delegado
de Saúde, sendo o único médico para uma população de trinta
mil pessoas. Mas a 17 de Setembro de 1962 é feito de novo
prisioneiro e enviado para a cadeia do Aljube, em Portugal,
onde após seis meses é posto em liberdade condicional,
permitindo ao Partido Comunista Português organizar a sua
fuga para o Marrocos.
Uma vez em Marrocos, parte para o Congo Kinshasa aonde
se encontrava o Bureau do MPLA e numa Conferência de
militantes, é eleito seu Presidente. Começa a sua liderança
no seio do Movimento tendo assumido a direcção da luta
político-militar, e Comandante em Chefe da guerrilha.
O contexto da luta de libertação de Angola foi muito difícil.
O MPLA como força progressista e Agostinho Neto como seu
Líder tiveram muitas vitórias, mas sofreram muitas pressões
e reveses manipulados pelos neocolonialistas. Agostinho
Neto era “demasiado” nacionalista, disposto a que a luta de
libertação não fosse apenas beneficiar um grupo de pessoas e,
como ele disse,” que este processo não seja apenas para uma
elite, mas antes um processo em que todo o povo participe”.
Agostinho Neto pretendeu que o seu país fosse Não Alinhado.
Isso não agradou a muitos, trouxe mesmo fissuras no seio do
MPLA, houve muitas intrigas no seio dos combatentes, eles
confundiam muitas vezes a cor da pele com o inimigo.
Foi preciso esclarecê-los em reuniões políticas para lhes
indicar quem era o inimigo. Nesse momento crucial para o
MPLA, Agostinho Neto escreve o seu célebre discurso”Quem
É O Inimigo?” que foi proferido na Universidade de Dar-esSalam perante jovens estudantes e professores.
É um discurso histórico que pontualiza as dificuldades da
África em se reencontrar, e não se deixar confundir, antes
discernir quem é o inimigo.
Agostinho Neto na África Austral, deu o seu contributo à
libertação da Namíbia e do Zimbabwe e ajudou a pôr fim ao
apartheid na África do Sul.
Não poderemos dizer que a sua visão esteja a ser realizada
e que a África ressurja no esplendor almejado do Poeta.
In Southern Africa, Agostinho Neto contributed to the
liberation of Namibia and Zimbabwe as well as passionately
supporting the fight against the South African apartheid
Mas a África, nas suas vitórias e derrotas, está descobrindo
o caminho para a sua afirmação no contexto global da
humanidade.
regime. We cannot say that his vision is being accomplished
and Africa is being restored within the splendor envisaged
by the poet. But Africa, through its victories and drawbacks
is discovering the path for its affirmation in the global
context of humanity.
Como Primeira-dama, quais são as acções dignas de
memória que levaram a cabo em conjunto com o seu
esposo?
A principal acção que partilhei com o meu marido foi a
Independência de Angola em 11 de Novembro de 1975,
proclamada pela sua voz, perante a África e o mundo.
As a First Lady, what are the memorable actions that
you had together with your husband?
The main act I shared with my husband was the
independence of Angola on 11 November 1975, which
Ainda mantem um contacto permanente com outras
Primeiras-damas? Lembra-se de quaisquer outras
acções levadas a cabo em colaboração com outras
mulheres influentes em África ou com quaisquer outras
Primeiras-damas?
Não tive muitas actividades com as Primeiras Damas Africanas
porque estávamos num contexto muito difícil de guerra e
todas as nossas atenções estavam viradas para a mobilização
do povo e para a substância espiritual a dar-lhes. É assim que
nasce a “União dos Escritores Angolanos”. Agostinho Neto foi
o Primeiro Presidente da Mesa da Assembleia Geral e o grande
mentor na proclamação da nossa União dos Escritores, sendo
eu também, um dos membros Fundadores.
Os poetas, os escritores e os artistas, estavam todos em
sintonia e eram a alma espiritual do povo. O povo aderia às
ideias do MPLA. O MPLA era como um deus gigante que se
alastrava por Angola inteira e dava certeza na vitória. Todos
os séculos de dominação se apagavam, e Agostinho Neto era
o Símbolo dessa Vitória. Era aquele que dizia ao povo, vamos
caminhar com toda a humanidade, pela harmonia e pela
paz.
he proclaimed with his voice before Africa and the entire
world.
Do you still have relationship with other First
Ladies? Do you remember any actions you made in
collaboration with other influential ladies in Africa or
any other first ladies?
I did not have many activities with other African First
Ladies because we were in a context of war and all our
attentions were to be directed to the mobilization of the
people and to the spiritual substance we needed to impart
on them. That is how the “Union of Angolan Writers” was
created. Agostinho Neto was the first Chairman of its
General Assembly and the great mentor of its formation.
I am also one of its founding members. Poets, writers and
artists were all in agreement and constituted the people’s
spiritual soul. The people adhered to MPLA’s ideas. The
MPLA was like a giant God that spread throughout the
entire country and provided the certainty for victory. All
the centuries of foreign dominion vanished and Agostinho
Neto was the symbol of that victory. He was the one who
Neste momento em que celebramos, hoje, o 50º
Aniversário da nossa Organização Continental, que
análise pode fazer da África?
Hoje, ao celebrarmos o quinquagésimo aniversário da
Organização Continental Africana este deve ser motivo
de regozijo, mas também de reflexão. O processo de
descolonização terminou, o apartheid viu o seu fim, isto
representa grandes vitórias. Contudo, o continente está a
ferro e fogo, em muitos países! Temos de estar bem alerta
para que o neocolonialismo não destrua as conquistas
alcançadas pelas independências e os povos não deixem de
acreditar nos seus líderes.
Porque tantas guerras? Porque tantas vidas humanas
destruídas? Porque tanto ódio? Porque é que uma elite
terá de ser tão rica e as populações ficarem numa grande
miséria? Porque é que o conhecimento não chega a todos?
Nós pensamos que só o conhecimento pode levar-nos ao
progresso e á conquista da paz.
Como mulher, o que lhe apraz dizer sobre o papel da
told the people let us walk full of humanity, for harmony
and peace.
Today, as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of our
Continental Organization, what analysis can you make
about Africa?
Today, while celebrating the Golden Jubilee of our
continental organization, should be a motivation for
rejoicing but also for reflection. The decolonization
process is over, the apartheid is over, which represent great
victories. The continent remains, however, under fire and
sword in many countries. We have to remain highly vigilant
to prevent neocolonialism from destroying the conquests
we achieved through our independences and force our
populations to stop believing in their leaders.
What is the reason for so many wars? Why so many lost
lives? Why so much hatred? Why should elite be so rich
while entire populations remain in abject poverty? Why
are we not aware of this? We believe that only knowledge
20
of these phenomena can lead us to progress and peace.
As a woman, what can you say about the role of women on
the Continent?
I think women can play, as some are already doing, a very
important role on the continent, by holding important
political and economic responsibilities in their countries.
As we know, some women individually and others through
political organizations, made a critical contribution in
the struggle for the liberation of our continent, either as
activists, freedom fighters, nurses, teachers or truck drivers
who transported vital logistics to the war fronts. Today,
more and more women are taking part in leading their
peoples and in the international decision making process
aiming at improving relationships within our continent and
in the world at large.
How do you spend your time right now? What is your
passion?
I am busy taking care of matters related to the Agostinho
Neto Foundation and other issues related to his poetic
legacy and heritage which I am the custodian. I also take
care of our family. My passion is knowledge, since only
knowledge allows us to understand one another and act
harmoniously.
What is your vision for the future of Africa in the next
10, 20 and 50years?
I think Africa is in need of Leaders who understand their
duties towards their populations and feel that destiny
made them the heralds of justice. This means that, these
leaders should refrain from their individualistic impetus
for opulence and comprehend the responsibilities given to
them for the elimination of misery and poverty, and leading
their respective peoples towards peace and progress. If we
have Leaders of this caliber, Africa would progress not only
economically but also spiritually and will quickly rediscover
itself. This is the only way Africa can occupy its rightful
place in the concert of nations, because if we don’t do it
now, technology could take us, fifty years down the line, to
unexpected places…
What do you think about Agenda 2063?
I think I have already responded to this in the last question
Would you be available to be in partnership with the
AU on this project?
We will do our level best, through Agostinho Neto
Foundation, to help Africa eliminate all evils befalling it
such as diseases, ignorance, illiteracy and hunger. By doing
so, we would be collaborating with the African Union in the
fulfillment of this common dream of thousands of Africans
so that our continent can move forward in peace and
harmony.
Luanda, 25 de September 2013.
Maria Eugénia Neto
21
mulher no Continente?
Eu penso que as mulheres podem ter e, algumas já têm,
um papel muito importante no Continente, algumas
desempenhando cargos na vida política e económica dos
seus países.
Como nós sabemos, algumas individualmente, outras através
das suas organizações de massas, deram um grande contributo
na luta de libertação do continente, fosse como activistas,
guerrilheiras, enfermeiras, professoras ou camionistas, que
levavam materiais até ás frentes de combate.
Hoje, cada vez mais, as mulheres participam na condução dos
seus povos e nas decisões internacionais para melhorar as
relações do nosso continente e do mundo.
Como passa o seu tempo aqui e agora? Qual é a sua
paixão?
Ocupo-me dos assuntos da Fundação Dr. António Agostinho
Neto e de assuntos relativos à Obra Poética e Política de
Agostinho Neto, bem assim do seu espólio, do qual sou a
guardiã. Ocupo-me também da nossa família. A minha paixão
é o conhecimento, pois só ele nos levará á compreensão uns
dos outros e a agir em conformidade.
Qual é a sua visão quanto ao futuro da África nos próximos
10, 20 e 50 anos?
Eu penso que a África precisa de líderes que entendam os seus
deveres para com os seus povos e sintam que o destino os fez
arautos da justiça. Isto querendo dizer, que eles terão de refrear
os seus ímpetos de grandeza e sentir as responsabilidades
que a nossa época lhes atribuiu na eliminação da miséria e da
pobreza, guiando os seus povos para a paz e o progresso. Se
tivermos homens deste calibre, a África poderá progredir, não
só economicamente como espiritualmente e reencontrar-se
ela própria. Poderá vir a ocupar o seu lugar no nosso mundo,
pois que, se não o fizerem agora, daqui a cinquenta anos a
tecnologia poderá levar-nos para outros mundos…
O que pensa da “Agenda-2063”?
Acho que já respondi a este ponto na última pergunta.
Estará disponível e trabalhar de mãos dadas com a UA na
implementação deste projecto?
Através da Fundação Dr. António Agostinho Neto daremos
o nosso melhor para que a África elimine todos os males
de que é vitima – as doenças, a ignorância, o analfabetismo
e a fome. Assim sendo, estaremos a colaborar com a União
Africana para a realização dos sonhos de muitos dos seus
melhores filhos, para que o continente caminhe em paz e
concordância.
Luanda, 25 de Setembro de 2013
Maria Eugénia Neto
AGENDA 2063, A CONTINENTAL CONSULTATION
Sep.12.2013 - Sep.14.2013: Consultation with the Private Sector on the African Union Agenda
2063 - Nairobi, Kenya
Sep.26.2013 - Sep.28.2013 Consultation with Ministries in charge of Economy, Finance and
Planning Experts on the African Union Agenda 2063 - Dakar, Senegal
22
Sep.30.2013 - Oct.02.2013 Consultation with the Civil Society Stakeholders on the African
Union Agenda 2063. Dakar, Senegal
Oct.08.2013 - Oct.10.2013: Consultation with the Diaspora on the African Union Agenda 2063
- New York, United States of America
Oct.21.2013
- Oct.23.2013
Consultation with
the RECS and AU
Organs on the
African Union
Agenda 2063,
Gaborone, Botswana
23
Nov.01.2013 - Nov.03.2013 Consultation with the Youth on Agenda 2063, Hammamet,
Tunisia
Dec.09.2013 - Dec.10.2013 Consultation with Media on Agenda 2063 - Yaoundé, Cameroon
Dec.12.2013 - Dec.13.2013 Consultation with Women on Agenda 2063 - Yaounde, Cameroon
24
EVENT
First AU Ministerial Retreat Reflects on Africa’s Agenda 2063
Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, AUC Chairperson and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Minister for
Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
B
ahir Dar, Ethiopia, 24th January 2014:
With the aim of brainstorming and
exchanging ideas on critical issues
relating to Africa’s Agenda 2063, and
the state of the African Union, members of the
AU Executive Council converged at a ministerial
retreat, which kicked off on 24th January 2014, in
the Ethiopian city of Bahir Dar, under the theme
of “Defining Agenda 2063 for Africa”.
Hosted by the Ethiopian Government
in collaboration with the African Union
Commission (AUC), the three-day retreat was
to discuss the framework for the Agenda 2063,
the implementation of the Strategic Plan of
the Commission (2014-2017), and revisit AU
structures, decision making processes, and
25
its implementation mechanisms for effective
delivery on set objectives.
Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma,AUC Chairperson,
noted in her opening remarks that as Africa
just emerged from the collective reflections on
Pan Africanism and African Renaissance that
grounded its golden jubilee celebrations, and as
it looks ahead towards the next fifty years, the
retreat presents an opportunity to revisit some of
the debates, in a more convivial atmosphere.
Dr. Dlamini Zuma said that the decision of the
Chairperson of the Executive Council to have
this retreat on the Africa Agenda 2063 was
well-timed, with a view “to enable this august
body to add its collective contribution towards
the Africa we want and the milestones we
must set towards this end”, specially that the
Agenda 2063 is coming after a year of robust
consultations with civil society on the future
they want. Addressing the retreat, Dr. Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus, Minister for Foreign Affairs of
the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
and Chairperson of the AU Executive Council,
highlighted that the continent needs to address
issues such as the economic emancipation,
peace and stability, accelerating rapid economic
growth, governance and democratization,
leadership and the need for a critical mass of
people with a developmental mindset, in order
to realize its long term agendas. He emphasized
on the significance of the Agenda 2063 for the
future of the African continent and achievement
of the African Renaissance. Representing the host country, Mr. Gedu
Andargachew, President of the Amhara
National Regional State, welcomed the hosting
of the ministerial retreat in Bahir Dar, noting that
the event “will offer a good opportunity for our
people to enhance their understanding of our
continental organization and its activities”.
The overall objective of the First Ministerial
Retreat of the African Union is to give clear
direction and guidelines on the key areas of
Agenda 2063 for subsequent elaboration and
devising on best ways and means of improving
the functioning of the AU structures, institutions
and processes with a view to attaining its
objectives as well as to galvanize synergy among
all major stakeholders, actors and development
partners. Agenda 2063 will be considered by
the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of
AU Heads of State and Government on 30th
January, and the final adoption is expected to
be done at the 23rd Ordinary Session of the
Assembly in June/July 2014.
The retreat was attended by the AU Foreign
Ministers and Members of the Executive Council;
Dr. Carlos Lopez, Executive Secretary of the
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa;
Mr. Erastus Mwencha Deputy Chairperson of
the AU Commission; AU Commissioners, and
members of the PRC and other officials.
The ministerial retreat ended its debates on
Sunday 26th January 2014.
From right to left Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Tumusiime Rhoda Peace,
Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture leading the participants of the retreat in Bahir Dar
26
OUTCOMES OF THE BAHIR DAR MINISTERIAL RETREAT OF THE
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON AGENDA 2063
24-26 JANUARY 2014
As adopted by the 24 Ordinary Session of the Executive Council,
27-28 January 2014, Addis Ababa (Rev.1)
th
A.
A1.
INTRODUCTION
The Bahir Dar Ministerial Retreat of the
Executive Council, hosted by and under the
Chairpersonship of the Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia, deliberated on the
evolving Agenda 2063 Framework and
contributed to the collective reflections of
Africans on their past, present and the future
they want. The retreat took place during the
last phase of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations
of the OAU/AU, with its theme “Pan Africanism
and African Renaissance.’
A2.
The continent-wide agenda is being elaborated
at a moment of great opportunities for Africa,
with positive movements on the political, social
and economic fronts. At the same time, Africa
continues to face the challenge of overcoming
the legacy of colonialism, exploitation,
underdevelopment and marginalization.
A3.
Agenda 2063 seeks to elaborate the agenda
for the next fifty years, to galvanize and unite
in action all Africans and the Diaspora around
the common vision of a peaceful, integrated
and prosperous Africa, driven by its citizens
and taking its rightful place in the world. As
an overarching framework, it provides internal
coherence and coordination to continental,
regional and national frameworks and plans
adopted by the OAU and AU, Members states
and RECs.
A4.
The Retreat noted the two pronged-approach
towards the development of Agenda 2063,
widespread consultations with all formations
of African society and the Diaspora backed
by rigorous technical analysis, including
baseline studies and benchmarking, review
of all national development plans, scenarios
and trend analysis through the joint AUC,
ADB, ECA and NEPAD team, as outlined in
the Progress report on Agenda 2063.
B.
VISION
B1.
The Bahir Dar retreat agreed on the continental
consensus on the African vision, and notes
the emerging central tenets and aspirations
contained in the Agenda 2063 Framework
document, the AU Commission Chairperson’s
‘Agenda 2063: an e-mail from the future’ and
other presentations and inputs made during
consultations and at the Retreat;
B2.
The Retreat further agreed that the dream
of an Africa that is integrated, peaceful
and prosperous is achievable, provided
that we construct this future, based on
27
actions taken now. We must furthermore
unite in action as Member states, Regional
Economic Communities, the African Union
and all its organs, all continental formations
and stakeholders, the African citizenry and
peoples of African descent, for the realization
of the goals, milestones and targets we set in
Agenda 2063.
B3.
That Agenda 2063 is an endogenous plan
of transformation, that seeks to harness the
continent’s comparative advantages such as
its people, history and cultures; its natural
resources; its position and repositioning in the
world to effect equitable and people-centred
growth and development and eradicate
poverty; develop Africa’s human capital;
build social assets, infrastructure and public
goods; empower women and youth; promote
lasting peace and security; and strengthen
and develop effective, strong developmental
states and participatory and accountable
institutions and governance. However, there
is a need for more precise definition of the
type of transformation that Africa desires that
will place us on this trajectory and lead to the
development architecture to attain our goals.
B4.
The acceleration and consolidation of African
integration and unity; the participation,
solidarity and determination of its leadership
and peoples and the structural transformation
of African economies and societies are
preconditions for success.
B5.
The Retreat stressed the importance of Africa
funding for its institutions and programmes,
as a critical enabler for the implementation of
Agenda 2063.
B6.
Agenda 2063 is a continuation of the
Pan African drive over centuries for selfdetermination, progress and freedom, and
central to the realization of the African
renaissance and century.
C.
AFRICA’S PLACE IN THE WORLD
C1.
The Retreat noted that Africa’s transformation
takes place in the context of an unfolding
global situation and trends, including the
ongoing realignments of the global economic,
geopolitical, security and social landscapes;
changes and advances in technology,
production, trade, knowledge and labour
markets; the opportunities presented by global
demographic trends and the growing global
middle classes in emerging and developing
countries and regions;
C2.
C3.
That by 2063 Africa’s population is projected
to reach 30% of the world’s population, Asia
50%, however our share of the world’s GDP is
projected to be only 10%. Our transformation
agenda must change this GDP trajectory, with
industrialization as the key driver, linked with
agriculture and food security.
That we are also conscious of the uncertainty
in the global environment, and the potential of
shocks and developments that may impact on
Africa’s trajectory, and that we need to build
resilience to mitigate and take advantage of
such changes.
C4.
That African engagement with the rest of the
world continues to be defined by the ebbs
and falls of demand for its natural resources
and primary products; the migration of its
peoples (forced or otherwise), but also by its
contributions to global culture, geo-politics
and to progressive human ideals of progress,
tolerance, freedom and justice, as captured
by the Pan African movement.
C5.
That Africa needs to take charge of its global
narrative and brand, to ensure that it reflects
continental realities, aspirations and priorities
and Africa’s position in the world.
C6.
The Retreat reaffirms African unity and
solidarity in the face of continued external
interference including by multi-national
corporations, attempts to divide the continent
and undue pressures and illegal sanctions on
some countries.
C7.
To position Africa in the world, by strengthening
our common perspectives on partnerships
that reflects the unity of the continent and
its priorities and perspectives on matters of
global importance, ensuring co-chairing of all
Summits and forums on Africa. Such common
perspectives would increase bargaining power,
bring about balance in the kind of partnerships
that Africa enters into and promoting Africa’s
common interests and agenda.
D.
THREATS AND RISKS
E1.
The Retreat analyzed the old and new threats
faced by the continent, including scrambles
for its resources in the face of changing global
demands and demographics; undue external
influence in the affairs of the continent; its
disproportionate burden of the impact of
climate change; and the huge scale of illicit
outflows of African resources and capital.
E2.
The potential internal threats posed by rapid
population growth, youth unemployment,
conflicts and internal strife and growing
inequality and subjective threats such as
weak institutions, state fragility, exclusion and
poor management of diversity; terrorism and
trans-national crime; rent-seeking, corruption
and lack of accountability.
28
E3.
E.
The Retreat acknowledged that these threats
and challenges can be mitigated and turned
into opportunities through collective strategies
and effective public policies and actions.
ENABLERS AND CONDITIONS FOR
SUCCESS
The retreat noted that Africa’s drive for transformation
will be facilitated by key enablers, among these are:
E1.
E2.
E3.
E4.
E5.
E6.
E7.
Building and promotion of Peace and Security
as a critical condition for development, growth
and human security, through African solutions
and responses, promotion of tolerance,
reconciliation and forgiveness, domestic
resource mobilization for African peacekeeping and peace-building and the inclusive
management of diversity and resources. The
Retreat noted the financial and human cost of
conflicts, in particular the costs of expenditure
on arms, mainly from manufacturers outside of
the continent. The Retreat agreed that we must
learn from past and present success stories of
peaceful resolution to disputes, such as the
peaceful settlement of Bakassi Peninsula case
between Nigeria and Cameroon, which was
settled after a twenty-year process through
mutually agreed international arbitration.
Effective management and the beneficiation
of African resources to effect transformation,
inclusive growth and industrialization.
Structural transformation of African economies
and societies, through high and sustained
rates of economic growth, diversification and
industrialization, human capital development,
agriculture and food security, infrastructure
development, the provision of basic services
and public goods, the promotion of intraAfrican trade and investment, effective and
accountable governance and institutions and
faster economic and political integration.
Investment in human capital development, in
order to reap the demographic dividend, with
special focus on the empowerment of women
and youth and investments in skills, science,
technology, research and innovation.
Effective and visionary leadership with political
commitment and accountability, coupled with
the mobilization and participation of African
citizens and strata.
Effective, accountable and participatory
institutions and governance based on
transparent laws and rules, effective public
policy and services, strengthening the role
of the state in development, enhancing the
legitimacy of institutions and building public
trust. We must develop general principals
around the evolution of African developmental
states.
Domestic mobilization of Finances and
Resources to speed up African development,
leverage national, regional and continental
resources from and to fund African institutions,
democratic governance and peace-building.
E8. Accelerated Regional integration at the centre
of the continental transformation agenda.
E9. A Paradigm shift through the promotion of
Pan African values and attitudes and build
confidence in the continent, how we take
forward implementation of our plans, a change
of gears in how we do business, with progress
in regional integration as the major indicator
of this paradigm shift.
E10. Taking charge of the African narrative and
the development of Brand Africa, confidence
in Africa’s potential and abilities, and
communication to inform the citizenry and the
world about African developments.
F.
G1.
Consolidate African initiatives and strategies
on accelerated human capital development,
science and technology and innovation: Africa
should lead the new industrial revolution by
building a skilled workforce, capitalizing on
the digital revolution and global knowledge.
This will contribute to rapid diversification of
sources of growth, sustain current economic
performance and lift large sections out
of poverty and create a powerful middle
class. The African skills revolution must be
conceptualized adequately, including the role
of the Pan African University, building our
universities as centers of excellence, build
continental complementarities in education
and learning from best practices in Africa and
the world at large.
G2.
Decisive actions to strengthen management
of African resources, the push for
industrialization and agricultural development:
the development of a commodity strategy
that will result in Africa regaining control of
the pricing of key commodities of it is the
dominant producer, building examples such
as the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange.
Furthermore, Africa should also push for a
commodity adjustment factor to take account
of fluctuations in currency.
MAKING IMPLEMENTATION HAPPEN
The Retreat noted that Africa must make vigorous
efforts to boost implementation focusing, among
others, on the following:
F1.
Strengthen
continental
and
regional
coordination mechanisms, especially ensuring
clarity of roles and responsibilities between
the AUC and RECs on the one hand, and
AUC and Member states on the other in the
implementation of major frameworks such as
PIDA, NEPAD.
In the Year of Agriculture and Food
Security, a concerted push on increased
agricultural productivity and agro-processing,
strengthening resilience in the face of climate
change, effective management of water
resources, strengthen African initiatives
such as the African Green Wall to combat
desertification.
F2.
Greater emphasis in action on the role of
Regional Communities as integration building
blocks and in the implementation of Agenda
2063.
F3.
Foster greater unity of the continent and
working together, speaking with one voice,
mobilization of the citizenry, building strong
institutions, financing and resources.
Establish clear and measurable milestones,
benchmarks, targets (5 or 10 year time
frames) and domestication of continental
frameworks into national processes, backed
by a rigorous Metrics for monitoring, reporting
and evaluation of the implementation and
impact of our plans at national, regional,
sectoral and continental levels.
Promote Peer review mechanisms, mutual
learning processes, the building of the African
knowledge base and the collection of data and
statistics, to underpin planning and monitoring
of our plans.
G3.
Accelerated Regional Integration initiatives:
Urgently identify and implement measures
that require limited financial resources but
have substantial impacts such as eliminating
bureaucratic bottle necks that hinder intra
African trade (e.g. cross border transit,
movement of people and goods, checkpoints
and other rent seeking behaviors); harmonizing
legal and regulatory frameworks that aid intraAfrica trade. Fast track measures to foster
continental integration based on solidarity, the
need for lead countries or clusters to act as
locomotives and poles of growth and shared
benefits for all. We must develop milestones
and benchmarks for regional integration and a
deliberate strategy to go beyond harmonization
standards towards actively building poles of
growth.
KEY STRATEGIC INITIATIVES FOR 2014
G4.
Pooled sovereignty, integration and common
African positions: this is an evolving concept,
and we can foster greater unity in action
through the concept of pooled sovereignty to
address common interest, key areas where
Africa benefits from block negotiations,
the indivisibility of Africa in negotiating
partnerships, such as: (i) trade; (ii) climate
F4.
F5.
G.
Agenda 2063 is a broad strategic framework for
collective action to fast-track Africa’s socio-economic
and political development. The Retreat identified a
number of strategic initiatives that are critical in the
short-term to give added impetus to this process:
29
change, the Green economy and collective
food security; (iii) fisheries, marine resources
and the Blue economy; and (iv) the global
Post-2015 and Sustainable development
agendas. Empower the AU Commission to
lead and coordinate such negotiations. A good
example from developing world is Mercosur.
G5. Strengthened efforts to end conflicts,
maintaining peace and a sustained strategy
to silence the guns by 2020 and reform of
the UN Security Council. African solutions
and inclusive management of diversity
and resources. Promote African solutions,
tolerance, forgiveness and reconciliation,
social, economic and political inclusion and
the management of diversity and resources.
Full operationalization of the African Peace
and Security Architecture, including the African
Standby Force and consideration of an African
Security Pact with entrenched rules.
G6. Strength
financial
independence
and
sustainability of key continental bodies such
as the AU Commission by adopting strategies
for self-financing of both operational and
programme activities, including in elections
and peace and security issues. Regional
models (e.g. ECOWAS) may provide
alternative options to consider. Ensure that
the upcoming meeting of Finance and Trade
Ministers in March 2014 in Abuja (which
will consider the two High level reports on
Alternative sources of funding and on Illicit
capital flows, including capital flights) takes in
consideration the perspectives of this retreat.
In addition to the proposals already adopted
by the May Summit, the basket of measures
should include consideration of the proposal
from the Retreat for a 0.5% levy on national
budgets, towards financing the AU institutions
and programmes.
G7. Renewed push on the hard integration issues,
including infrastructure and agricultural
development and industrialization; and the
movement towards regional and continental
free trade areas, including timelines.
G8. Strengthening the key integration institutions:
including the AUC, PAP (model laws), RECs,
financial institutions, Court and Commission
for Peoples and Human rights, etc.
G9. Create an annual Economic Platform for
regular engagement between the political
leadership, business leaders, intellectuals,
civil society and the private sector on the
continent. We should furthermore revive and
strengthen the key Pan Africanist movements,
including the women and youth movements.
G10. Communication with the African citizenry
and the Diaspora, building an African
peoples movement for transformation and
implementation of the African Governance
30
Architecture and the APRM recommendations
in order to deepen democracy and improve
the quality of governance.
G11. Continual redefinition of Africa’s place in
the world, by strengthening our common
perspectives on partnerships (including
upcoming partnership summits and meetings,
and multilateral negotiations and forums),
that reflects the unity of the continent and
its priorities and perspectives on matters of
global importance.
H. FOLLOW-UP ACTION & RESPONSIBILITIES
OF DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS
H1.
Executive Council: a Committee of Ministers
to follow-up on implementation of Retreat
outcomes; and provide guidance on the
development and implementation of Agenda
2063. The Retreat agreed that the Committee
of Ministers on Agenda 2063, shall consists
of Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, and
Rwanda, joined by the Chairpersons of the
RECs, the outgoing and incoming Chairperson
of the Executive Council, joined by the
existing committee of the AUC Chairperson,
the CEO of Nepad, the President of the ADB
and the Executive Secretary of the UNECA.
The Committee will operate for a period of
two years, and will be reviewed to allow for
rotation and regional balance.
H2.
The Retreat agreed on the institutionalization
of the Foreign Ministers Retreat before the
Summit, around a specific theme or themes,
to enable joint strategizing and monitoring of
continental priorities. Promote the involvement
of Ministers, in addition to HOSG, in continental
tasks and panels, with to further effective and
broad-based analysis, implementation and
review, recalling the role played by the OAU
Liberation Committee in driving and mobilizing
solidarity around the decolonization project.
H3.
Member States: commit to provide feedback
and inputs on the Agenda 2063 Framework
and the links to national and regional plans;
popularization and consultations with citizenry
on Agenda 2063, and the possibility of national
multi-stakeholder forums for Agenda 2063.
H4.
AU Commission: develop action plan to
give effect to the retreat outcomes, drive and
coordinate implementation; engage retreat
outcomes with other AU organs, the RECs
and all other relevant stakeholders. Effective
preparations in consultation with Member
states and Organs for upcoming partnership
summits (Europe, US, etc) and multilateral
negotiations on issues mentioned above.
H5.
To present the Agenda 2063 framework for
adoption at June/July 2014 Summit, and
the first ten year plan to the January 2015
Summit.
‘Agenda 2063 will be a peoples’ document’
says the Commissioner for Economic Affairs
wish for a strong Africa that is an influential global
player and partner as the consolidated aspiration
of the continent.
Addis Ababa, 31 January 2014.
!
H.E.Dr. Anthony Mothae Maruping, the African
Union Commissioner for Economic Affairs briefed
the media about the consultative process that
is shaping Agenda 2063 framework document
towards finalization. He was speaking during
a press conference at the AU Head quarters in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on January 31.
The Commissioner while emphasizing the
‘bottom-up’ approach of Agenda 2063 as the
feature that distinguishes it from previous
developmental frameworks, highlighted the
important role member states, stake holders, and
more importantly the African People have to play
in determining the direction of Agenda 2063 so
as to truly take ownership of the developmental
framework of the continents next 50 years. The
already identified stakeholders are the private
sector, African academics, think tanks, planning
experts and development specialists, civil society
organizations, the diaspora, Regional Economic
Communities (RECs), AU organs and sections of
society such as women, youth and the media.
Reporting the outcome of the consultative process
in developing Agenda 2063, Commissioner
Maruping presented the wish for a prosperous
Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable
development, the wish for an integrated continent
that is politically united and based on the ideals
of Pan Africanism, the wish for an Africa of good
governance, respect for human rights, justice and
the rule of law, the wish for a peaceful and secure
Africa, the wish for an Africa with a strong cultural
identity, values and ethics, the wish for an Africa
whose development is people-driven, relying on
Women and its youthful composition, and the
31!
The consultative process involved establishing a
technical support team for the continental level
discussion on Agenda 2063, providing the forum
for participants to share the vision, propose
goals, milestones, key drivers, and priority
actions, undertaking technical analysis and
review of national plans, regional and continental
frameworks and the identification of the preliminary
indicators and base line information as well as
the development of guidelines for national and
regional level consultations. Commissioner
Maruping announced the plan to submit the final
draft Agenda 2063 document to the AU Summit
in July 2014 and urged the media to encourage
citizens to participate fully in the development of
the agenda.
For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication
| African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@
african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis
Ababa | Ethiopia
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AUC LAUNCHES THE AU AGENDA 2063 WEBSITE
The Launching by Amb Jean-Baptiste Natama,chief of staff of the AUC on Sept 3rd 2013
Addis Ababa, 3rd September 2013- Within the framework
of Agenda 2063, (a 50 year development framework for
Africa), the Agenda 2063 Website was officially launched
at a press conference today, 3rd of September 2013 by
Ambassador Jean-Baptiste Natama, Chief of Staff of the
African Union Commission (AUC).
The Chief of Staff, in his opening remarks stated that
the website, http://agenda2063.au.int/ is part of the
participatory and inclusive approach by the Commission
to allow each and every African to contribute towards the
definition of Agenda.
Ambassador Natama highlighted that the website was
created because of the need to define a common vision
for the continent. He recalled that many previous initiatives
to address challenges faced by the continent did not have
ownership from the stakeholders. This is why the AUC
adopted the participatory approach using new technology
to reach the maximum number of Africans and to get their
views and inputs. “The expectation is that Africans will
feel that they own the process through their participation
and will be more committed to implementing the agenda”,
the Chief of Staff added. In this respect, he encouraged
all Africans to make proposals through the website to
ensure agenda 2063 is successfully implemented.
He also revealed that, in preparing for the launch of
Agenda 2063, that several consultations had been
held with different stakeholders such as civil society,
gender, private sector, and media. This statement was
echoed by the AUC Director of Strategic Policy Planning,
Monitoring Evaluation and Resource Mobilization, Mr
Mandla M. Madonsela, who also announced that further
consultations are scheduled to take place with technical
experts, academics and the private sector. The final
Agenda 2063 document will be considered by the AU
policy organs in January 2014 and a final presentation
is slated for June of the same year. It is expected, he
added, that, once Agenda 2063 is finalized, that all other
actors such as Regional Economic Communities and
member states will integrate elements of the agenda into
their development plans.
The website was unveiled and explained to the media
by Mrs. Christiane Y. Matondo, Principal Communication
Officer, assisted by Mr Michael Fikre, the website designer.
Later, the media personnel were treated to a more in
depth tutorial on the different aspects of the website.
They also made proposals towards its improvement. The
press conference, which was moderated by Mrs Wynne
Musabayana- Deputy Head of Communication and
Information, was also attended by Professor Emmanuel
Nnadozie of the Economic Commission for Africa and
Amb Febe Potgieter- Advisor to the Chairperson of the
African Union Commission.
Pre-launching by Mr Mandla Madonsela Director of Strategic Planning on August 26 2013
32
AGENDA 2063 UPCOMING EVENTS
The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of January 2014 requested to have
the final document of the Agenda 2063 by its next session in June 2014. In order
to comply with the request, the following activities are planned to be undertaken
between now and June 2014:
•Consultations with former heads of states, AU Organs and Agencies, Regional
Economic Communities (RECs), public consultations at national level, sectoral that
include ministerial consultations e.g. on gender, tourism, finance etc.
•Technical work covering review of national, regional and continental plans
and frameworks; situational and scenario analysis; resource mobilization and
communication strategies etc., including the drafting of the final Agenda 2063.
•Review and validation of the work done by the Technical Committee on Agenda
2063; AU Commission, Ministerial Sub-committee on Agenda 2063 and AU policy
organs.
The Chairperson of the AUC with some members of the Agenda 2063 Technical Team
33
What Does the 50th Anniversary of the African
Union Mean to Me?* BY DOROTHY DAVIS
prosperity as a people, as a Continent and
as a diaspora.
(At the time, he was speaking as South Africa’s
Vice President under the presidency of the
late Nelson Mandela and on the occasion of
the passing of the new Constitution of South
Africa. This speech defined the political
mood of the moment in post-Apartheid
South Africa and has been likened to Martin
Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech
on the occasion of the historic civil rights
March on Washington on 28 August 1963 in
Washington, DC.)
Several years after President Mbeki made
his speech, the Organization of African Unity
(OAU) was transformed into the African
Union (AU) at its Summit in South Africa in
July 2002. Since the OAU had accomplished
its mission of liberating all African countries
of colonialism and apartheid since its
inception on25 May 1963, the focus of the
AU became regional integration on multilevels. In addition, the AU decided to add the
diaspora as its Sixth Region.
Title: What Does the 50th Anniversary of
the African Union Mean to Me?*
Sub-Title: Definition of the African
Diaspora:
Leveraging
the
Historic
Interconnectedness between Africa and its
Diaspora
By Dorothy Davis
First date written: May 17, 2013
Submission Date to African Union: 20 January
2014 (Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday)
When former President of South Africa Thabo
Mbeki articulated in his famous “African
Renaissance” speech on 8 May 1996: “I Am
an African”, he acknowledged that we had
freed ourselves from political bondage while
encouraging us to release our economic
bondage and naturally move toward our
34
While the AU’s conceptual definition of the
diaspora is broad and all encompassing,
the operational definition is very limited.
When Africans talk about the diaspora, they
really only mean what is now called “the
Afropolitans”: the most recent generation of
African immigrants who have lived or grew
up outside of Africa and have a more recent
connection to Africa. They usually are not
including the descendants of slaves.
This is very disturbing to me because
it dismisses the tremendous historical
collaboration that has existed between the
larger African diaspora and Africa for decades
and centuries. Were it not for the larger
African diaspora, Africa’s timetable toward
freedom may have been prolonged. Were it
not for Africa, the timetable for freedom within
the context of the African diaspora would
also have been prolonged. In my mind, it is
paramount that Africa operationally recognize
its symbiotic relationship with the full multidimensional diaspora so that strategic
partnerships can be formed in order for all to
enjoy and be a part of Africa’s renaissance
through individual and collective prosperity
and peace.
Here is how it has worked in the past.
Having grown up in a colonized Gold Coast
and graduated from Lincoln University in
the State of Pennsylvania in 1942, Kwame
Nkrumah was able to learn from both
experiences, analyze them, strategize and
execute. This was evidenced by how he used
the Independence Day celebration of Ghana
on 6 March 1957 as a platform to encourage
unique global meetings and dialogue of key
individuals and stakeholders. My Dad, Griff
Davis, was one of the official photographers
that day in Accra representing the U.S.
Information Service in Monrovia, Liberia.
Then U.S. Vice-President Richard Nixon
headed the U.S. delegation to the celebration
as part of his first tour of Africa. The first
African American
Congressman
from
Michigan Charles Diggs, Jr. was a member
of his delegation. It was his first trip to Africa
as well. At the time, Diggs had only been
a Congressman for two years and was an
outspoken advocate of the Civil Rights Act
of 1957. He later joined the Foreign Affairs
Committee (now the International Relations
Committee) until he left office in 1980. In
1969, he became Chair of its Subcommittee
on Africa and the Founder and First Chairman
of the Congressional Black Caucus (19691971). He, also, led the early charge by
African American Members of Congress to
denounce the apartheid regime in South
Africa.
Ghana’s Independence Day also provided
the platform for Vice President Nixon and
Martin Luther King, Jr. to meet one week
after Martin Luther King, Jr. had successfully
completed the yearlong Montgomery Bus
Boycott in Alabama that ignited the U.S.
Civil Rights Movement. After they met, King
told my Dad later that it was then that Nixon
invited him to Washington, D.C. Being a
photographer, Morehouse College mate,
and Atlanta hometown friend of Martin
Luther King, Jr. and his family, my Dad took
the photo of their first meeting as historical
35
documentation because their meeting would
have never happened on American soil at
that time. Kwame Nkrumah knew that having
had the experience of being treated as an
African American while studying at Lincoln
University and University of Pennsylvania
from 1935 to 1943 and witnessed the existing
Jim Crow segregationist system of the
time. (The Jim Crow system was America’s
equivalent to apartheid.)
Nkrumah also invited Nobel Peace Prize
Winner Ralph Bunche, the highest ranking
African American at the United Nations
to attend the festivities in his capacity as
Undersecretary for Special Political Affairs.
My father took photos of all of them including
the moment on March 6, 1957 when Kwame
Nkrumah declared Ghana’s independence.
It was Nkrumah’s sophisticated understanding
of this ongoing interconnectedness between
Africa and its diaspora to their respective
survival and ultimate prosperity that
prompted him to use that big day as a global
platform to reflect and advance the dialogue
around common diasporan issues. Yet,
Nkrumah was not the first to recognize this
interconnectedness.
President William V.S. Tubman of Liberia
and His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile
Selassie I of Ethiopia already understood
this interconnectedness based on their
respective and collective experiences
and involvement as a Founding Member
(Liberia) of the League of Nations in 1919
and as a Member State (Ethiopia) in 1923,
and, subsequently, as Charter Members of
the United Nations in 1945. One personal
example of the impact of Africa on American
society was the fact that my Liberian Uncle,
Emmett Harmon, and African American Aunt,
Dovey Davis Harmon, frequently stayed in
an apartment at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel
in New York City when he would represent
President Tubman at key meetings at the
UN. This was at a time in the 1950s when
African Americans were still not allowed to
frequent the establishment as customers;
only as staff. In fact, after a New York tickertape parade in his honor for winning four
Olympic medals in track and field in the 1936
Summer Olympics, Jesse Owens had to ride
the freight elevator to attend a reception for
him at the Waldorf-Astoria due to his being
African American because only white people
could ride in the main elevators.
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie
I welcomed the support his country received
from African Americans during Ethiopia’s
war with Italy. To show his appreciation, he
traveled to Harlem (New York) to thank them
during his speech at Abyssinian Baptist
Church in 1954 and presented its pastor,
the late US Congressman Adam Clayton
Powell, Jr. with an Ethiopian Coptic cross.
This cross has since become the official
symbol of the church and still stands on the
pulpit.
Emperor Selassie, also, welcomed the
support of the Rastafarians in Jamaica and
made a State visit there in April 1966 to
show solidarity.
Concurrently, Liberia’s purchase of the land
on 16th Street in the northwest section
of then segregated Washington, D.C. for
its Embassy to the United States and
Ambassador’s Residence was historic. At
that time, Black Americans were not allowed
to purchase real estate in that section of the
city. By doing so, Liberia opened an idea
of access that did not exist before simply
because the U.S. government and other U.S.
government bodies were forced to adhere to
the rules of international diplomatic protocol
for this sovereign country.
To provide a reverse perspective, my Dad
first met Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah
in December 1952 when he sailed with
him from Accra, Gold Coast to Liberia on
Nkrumah’s way to his State Visit to Liberia
at the invitation of President Tubman in
January 1953. My parents hosted a reception
for Nkrumah in our home on Mamba Point
in Monrovia in one of the twin bungalows
leased to us by President Tubman. My Dad
was the U.S. Embassy’s Information Officer
and one of the pioneers that worked on
President Harry Truman’s Point 4 program,
the precursor to present day USAID. (Prior
to joining the U.S. Foreign Service, he had
been the First Roving Editor for Ebony
Magazine in 1947 before becoming an
international photojournalist for the Black
36
Star Agency in 1949.) In this capacity, he
invited the media accompanying Nkrumah
from the Gold Coast, the Liberian press
and foreign press based in Monrovia to the
reception.
My Dad’s supervisor and the first AfricanAmerican U.S. Ambassador to Liberia (and
simultaneously Africa), Edward R. Dudley,
attended along with other key officials from
the U.S. Embassy. My father gave welcoming
remarks that acknowledged the presence of
all attending media and encouraged them
to tell the story of the Gold Coast. His
remarks were well received at the time but
subsequently caused a major problem in my
Dad’s career as an African American U.S.
Foreign Service Officer.
When the U.S. State Department found out
about my Dad’s remarks, he was accused of
meddling in the internal affairs of a country
even though he had previously cleared
his intended actions and remarks with his
supervisors who were also African American
Foreign Service Officers. He, ultimately,
resigned from his position as Information
Officer of the U.S. Embassy even though
he and my Mom were expecting their first
child. When President Tubman found out,
he stepped in and encouraged the U.S.
Ambassador and my Dad to come to some
agreement. It resulted in my Dad retracting
his letter of resignation and remaining at
post in Liberia for the balance of his tour.
As already depicted, each step forward
led to the next step forward irrespective of
geographic boundaries whether the desired
results happened in the desired timeframe
or a future timeframe. One generation
passed the baton of its accomplishments to
the next.
* An excerpt from The Diasporan Corner,
a periodic column on a variety of issues
affecting, connecting and providing multiple
perspectives on Africa and its Diaspora by
Dorothy Davis of The Diasporan Touch.
(First column was published during UNECA’s
African Development Forum IV (ADFIV) on
Governance in 2004.)
L’Afrique va-t-elle enfin prendre l’envol pour son
développement intégral pour les 50 années à venir ?
passés, à l’occasion du cinquantième
anniversaire marquant le jubilé d’or de
l’OUA/UA. Ceux-ci avaient réaffirmé leur
engagement pour le développement du
continent et se sont engagés à accomplir
des progrès dans les huit domaines clés. Il
s’agit notamment de l’identité africaine et la
Renaissance de l’Afrique ; la lutte contre le
colonialisme et le droit à l’autodétermination
des peuples encore sous domination
coloniale ; un Agenda d’intégration; un
Agenda pour le développement social et
économique; un Agenda pour la paix et la
sécurité; la Gouvernance démocratique; la
Détermination du destin de l’Afrique; et la
place de l’Afrique dans le monde.
Par Elisabeth Benkam *
Après la commémoration du jubilé
d’or de la création de l’Organisation
de l’unité africaine (OUA) en 1963,
les dirigeants du continent au plus
haut niveau devraient s’engager à
s’approprier l’Agenda 2063 s’ils veulent
garantir un avenir certain à l’Afrique
pour les 50 prochaines années.
L’année 2013 marque le jubilé d’or et la
commémoration, par les Africains, des
cinquante ans de succès de l’OUA et de
l’UA. La décision de 2002 de créer l’Union
africaine était principalement fondée sur
le fait que le mandat initial de l’OUA de
décoloniser le continent était atteint et
réalisé et que l’Afrique avait désormais
besoin de nouveaux cadres institutionnels
pour faire avancer son programme de
développement et d’intégration. Le ton a été
donné dans la Déclaration solennelle faite
par les Chefs d’État et de Gouvernement
de l’Union africaine, réunis pour célébrer
le leadership politique de l’Afrique, tout
en reconnaissant les réussites et les défis
37
Ils se sont également engagés à intégrer
ces idéaux et objectifs dans leurs plans
nationaux de développement et dans
l’élaboration de l’Agenda continental 2063
à travers un processus axé sur les peuples
pour la réalisation de la vision de l’UA pour
une Afrique centrée sur les personnes,
prospère, intégrée, en paix avec elle-même.
Pour parvenir à exécuter leur programme
les chefs d’État et de Gouvernement de
l’Union africaine devront s’appuyer sur la
Commission de l’Union africaine avec la
collaboration de l’Agence de Coordination du
NEPAD (Agence du NEPAD), le soutien de la
Banque africaine de développement (BAD),
les Communautés Economiques régionales
(CER) et la Commission économique pour
l’Afrique (CEA). Il va s’agir de définir et
d’adopter un agenda continental pour les
50 prochaines années avec pour objectif
de tracer une trajectoire de croissance pour
l’Afrique tenant compte des leçons tirées
des 50 dernières années avec un accent
sur les aspirations des populations, et la
poursuite des idéaux du panafricanisme.
Qu’est-ce que l’Agenda 63 ?
Décliné en un programme à court, moyen
et long terme, l’Agenda 2063 représente
un effort collectif et une opportunité pour
l’Afrique de retrouver son pouvoir en vue de
déterminer son propre destin soutenu par la
vision de l’UA qui vise à «bâtir une Afrique
intégrée, prospère et en paix, soutenue et
dirigée par ses propres citoyens et constituant
une force dynamique sur la scène mondiale
». Il est à la fois une vision et un plan
d’action. Dans un monde en pleine mutation
et dans lequel le contient doit retrouver ses
marques, c’est un appel à l’action lancé à
tous les fils et filles du continent quelles
que soient leurs domaines d’activités ou
d’intervention. Plus précisément, il s’agit
des CER et les organes de l’UA, les experts
techniques des ministères de la Planification
et du Développement économique des États
membres, les experts techniques issus des
milieux universitaires et des groupes de
réflexion, la société civile, les femmes et les
jeunes, le secteur privé, les organisations
confessionnelles et culturelles, la diaspora
africaine, les médias, les personnalités
éminentes de l’Afrique, les anciens Chefs
d’État et de Gouvernement, et les autres
acteurs par le truchement de l’Internet.
Que peuvent attendre les africains de
l’Agenda 63
Invités à surpasser leurs égoïsmes parfois
surdimensionnés, les chefs d’Etats et de
Gouvernement
devraient
entreprendre
ce nouvel effort pour mettre sur pied des
programmes de développement à court,
moyen et long terme pour le continent
qui devront viser le développement tout
azimut de leurs concitoyens. Les africains
à travers l’Agenda 2063 devront s’attendre
à la réduction significative des conflits, au
renforcement de la paix et de la stabilité,
la gestion saine des ressources naturelles
ainsi que les progrès en matière de
gouvernance démocratique. Il faudra en
sus mettre en œuvre la zone continentale
de libre-échange pour rapprocher et
unir davantage les africains, établir et
développer le capital humain de l’Afrique
qui est une ressource très importante du
continent, éradiquer les maladies comme le
VIH/SIDA, le paludisme et la tuberculose,
s’approprier et développer les ressources
naturelles, éradiquer l’extrême pauvreté et
assurer un développement qui réponde aux
besoins des populations
38
Les atouts du continent.
Avec le changement de l’architecture
financière internationale, avec la montée
des BRICS et l’amélioration des flux d’IDE,
la participation et l’inclusion de toutes les
parties prenantes dans la conception,
l’élaboration, l’exécution et le suivi et
l’évaluation de l’Agenda 2063 permettront
d’améliorer la sensibilisation, la propriété et
la connaissance des objectifs et du but de
l’Agenda 2063, et de renforcer l’engagement
collectif. Nous ne saurons oublier que
l’Afrique est un marché économique
nouveau où les débouchés sont nombreux et
diversifiés, une main d’œuvre qui se qualifie
au fur et à mesure. En outre il ne faut pas
perdre de vue que l’Afrique dispose d’une
jeunesse dynamique et volontaire, potentiel
humain diversifié, des ressources naturelles
et du sous-sol riches et très importants et
qui ne nécessitent qu’une gouvernance
appropriée.
Ainsi, l’Agenda 2063 doit être considéré
comme l’occasion unique de reconstruire le
rêve africain en le mettant en perspective
en vue d’enthousiasmer et de dynamiser la
population africaine, et d’utiliser son énergie
constructive pour définir et mettre en œuvre
un programme réalisable pour l’unité, la
paix et le développement au 21 ièmesiècle.
L’Agenda 2063 se veut un programme
de rajeunissement social, économique
et politique qui lie le passé au présent
et à l’avenir afin de créer une nouvelle
génération de panafricanistes qui miseront
sur les leçons apprises et les utiliseront
comme piliers pour consolider l’espoir et
les promesses des pères fondateurs d’une
véritable renaissance de l’Afrique.
* Mrs. Elisabeth BENKAM,
Correspondante
PANAPRESS Yaoundé Cameroun, est Camerounaise,
Présidente
du
Conseil
Syndical
(Conseil
d’Administration) du Syndicat National des Journaliste
du Cameroun (SNJC), elle est Diplômée de l’Ecole
Supérieure des sciences et techniques de l’Information et
de la Communication et detient un Master de traduction
(Anglais-Français). Depuis 2001, elle a rejoint l’équipe
des correspondants étrangers de l’Agence Panafricaine
de Presse (PANAPRESS) et exerce au Cameroun . Elle
est egalement Alumna Voices of Africa (agence de presse
vidéo basée en Hollande)
Africa @ 100
by Abdul-Rahman Harruna Attah
African heads of state
2. To give back the Union to the African
people, the AU must be “peoplefriendly”
3. It must take a leading role in unleashing
innovation, creativity and productivity
on the continent to engender
development
4. The AU must ensure a more engaging
parliament, along the lines of the EU
parliament to involve the people through
their representatives in the decisionmaking process and set standards of
relationships across the continent
I am referring to 2063, that is, in 50 years’
time.
Not many of us, this current generation of
Africans will be alive then, and that is why
we must peek into the telescope of time and
see just what good or damage we will be
bequeathing those who would be inheriting
us in 2063.
I was out of town recently, visiting Yaoundé,
Cameroon, to participate in an African
Union consultative workshop on AU Agenda
2063, a bold initiative by the AU to develop
“A shared strategic framework for inclusive
growth and sustainable development”.
The Agenda, among many other laudable
expectations speaks of “African identity and
Renaissance”. Identity and renaissance,
do underpin this dream for grow and
sustainable development in the next 50
years. How to achieve that is very much an
issue of debate and negotiation, but some
points I have been pondering, include the
fact that for the African people to buy into
the Agenda, the AU must turn the mirror on
itself first:
1. The AU must be a union of the people
of Africa and not a private club for
39
5. Sub-regional groupings must integrate
and harmonize policies, for example,
the free movement of people across
the continent and the means to do that,
like reliable air links, highways and
railways
6. The “democracy dividend” must
manifest in more freedoms – e.g., of
expression, all-inclusiveness, human
rights and citizens’ self-actualization
7. Practical Pan Africanism where
history and lament are superseded
by achievable and sustainable African
goals like the APRM, which currently
seems to be in limbo
I am sure there are as many other points
as there are Africans, to ponder, so let’s
keep pondering as we leave 2013 and
enter 2014. Happy Prosperous Year to
us all…
Bio ABDUL-RAHMAN HARRUNA ATTAH
Managing editor of The Accra Mail, a weekly newspaper.
Also serves on the Board of New Times Corporation,
publishers of The Ghanaian Times, a state-owned
Daily.
THE 50TH OAU/AU ANNIVERSARY DECLARATION
We, Heads of State and
Government of the African Union
assembled to celebrate the
Golden Jubilee of the OAU/AU
established in the city of Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia on 25 May
1963,
Evoking the uniqueness of the
history of Africa as the cradle
of humanity and a centre of
civilization, and dehumanized
by
slavery,
deportation,
dispossession, apartheid and
colonialism as well as our
struggles against these evils,
which shaped our common
destiny and enhanced our
solidarity with peoples of African
descent;
Recalling with pride, the historical
role and efforts of the Founders
of the Pan-African Movement
and the nationalist movements,
whose visions, wisdom, solidarity
and commitment continue to
inspire us;
Reaffirming our commitment to
the ideals of Pan-Africanism and
Africa’s aspiration for greater
unity, and paying tribute to the
Founders of the Organization
of African Unity (OAU) as well
as the African peoples on the
continent and in the Diaspora
for their glorious and successful
struggles against all forms of
oppression, colonialism and
apartheid;
Mindful that the OAU/AU have
been relentlessly championing
for the complete decolonization
of the African continent and
that one of the fundamental
objectives
is
unconditional
respect for the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of each of its
Member States; Stressing our
commitment to build a united and
integrated Africa;
Guided by the vision of our Union
and affirming our determination to
“build an integrated, prosperous
and peaceful Africa, driven and
managed by its own citizens and
representing a dynamic force in
the international arena”;
Determined
to
take
full
responsibility for the realisation
of this vision;
Guided
by
the
principles
enshrined in the Constitutive
Act of our Union and our
Shared Values, in particular our
commitment to ensure gender
equality and a people centred
approach in all our endeavours
as well as respect for sovereignty
and territorial integrity of our
countries.
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT:
I. The Organisation of African
Unity (OAU) overcame internal
and
external
challenges,
persevered
in
the
quest
for
continental
unity
and
solidarity; contributed actively
to the liberation of Africa from
colonialism
and
apartheid;
provided a political and diplomatic
platform to generations of leaders
on continental and international
matters;
and
elaborated
frameworks
for
Africa’s
development and integration
agenda through programmes
such as NEPAD and APRM.
II. The African Union (AU)
carried forward our struggle for
self-determination and drive for
development and integration;
formulated a clear vision for
our Union; agreed that the
ultimate goal of the Union is
the construction of a united and
integrated Africa; instituted the
principle of non-indifference by
authorizing the right of the Union
to intervene in Member States in
conformity with the Constitutive
Act; and laid the groundwork
for the entrenchment of the
rule of law, democracy, respect
for human rights, solidarity,
promotion of gender equality and
40
the empowerment of Women and
Youth in Africa.
III. The implementation of
the integration agenda; the
involvement of people, including
our Diaspora in the affairs of
the Union; the quest for peace
and security and preventing
wars and genocide such as
the 1994 Rwandan genocide;
the alignment between our
institutional framework and the
vision of the Union; the fight
against
poverty;
inequality
and underdevelopment; and,
assuring Africa’s rightful place in
the world, remain challenges.
WE HEREBY DECLARE:
A. On the African Identity and
Renaissance
i) Our strong commitment
to
accelerate
the
African
Renaissance by ensuring the
integration of the principles of
Pan Africanism in all our policies
and initiatives;
ii) Our unflinching belief in our
common destiny, our Shared
Values and the affirmation of the
African identity; the celebration of
unity in diversity and the institution
of the African citizenship;
iii) Our commitment to strengthen
AU programmes and Member
States institutions aimed at
reviving our cultural identity,
heritage, history and Shared
values, as well as undertake,
henceforth, to fly the AU flag and
sing the AU anthem along with
our national flags and anthems;
iv) Promote and harmonize
the teaching of African history,
values and Pan Africanism in
all our schools and educational
institutions as part of advancing
our
African
identity
and
Renaissance;
v) Promote people to people
engagements including Youth and
civil society exchanges in order
to strengthen Pan Africanism.
B.
The
struggle
against
colonialism and the right to
self-determination of people
still under colonial rule
i) The completion of the
decolonization
process
in
Africa; to protect the right to
self-determination of African
peoples still under colonial rule;
solidarity with people of African
descend and in the Diaspora
in their struggles against racial
discrimination; and resist all
forms of influences contrary to
the interests of the continent;
ii) The reaffirmation of our call to
end expeditiously the unlawful
occupation of the Chagos
Archipelago, the Comorian Island
of Mayotte and also reaffirm the
right to self-determination of the
people of Western Sahara, with
a view to enable these countries
and peoples, to effectively
exercise sovereignty over their
respective territories.
C. On the integration agenda
Our commitment to Africa’s
political, social and economic
integration agenda, and in this
regard, speed up the process
of attaining the objectives of the
African Economic Community
and take steps towards the
construction of a united and
integrated Africa. Consolidating
existing
commitments
and
instruments, we undertake, in
particular, to:
i) Speedily implement the
Continental Free Trade Area;
ensure free movement of goods,
with focus on integrating local
and regional markets as well as
facilitate African citizenship to
allow free movement of people
through the gradual removal of
visa requirements;
ii) Accelerate action on the
ultimate establishment of a
united and integrated Africa,
through the implementation of our
common continental governance,
democracy and human rights
frameworks. Move with speed
towards the integration and
merger of the Regional Economic
Communities as the building
blocks of the Union.
v) Also take ownership, preserve,
protect and use our oceanic
spaces and resources, improve
our maritime and transport
industries to the benefit of
the continent and its peoples,
including by contributing to food
security
D. On the agenda for social
and economic development
vi) Preserve our arable land for
current and future generations,
develop our rural economies, our
agricultural production and agroprocessing to eradicate hunger
and malnutrition, as well as
achieve food security and selfsufficiency;
Our commitment to place the
African people, in particular
women, children and the youth, as
well as persons with disabilities,
at the centre of our endeavours
and to eradicate poverty. In this
regard, we undertake to:
i) Develop our human capital as
our most important resource,
through education and training,
especially in science, technology
and innovation, and ensure
that Africa takes its place and
contributes to humanity, including
in the field of space sciences and
explorations;
ii)
Eradicate
disease,
especially HIV/AIDS, Malaria
and Tuberculosis and ensure
universal health care services to
our citizens;
iii)
Accelerate
Africa’s
infrastructural development, to
link African peoples, countries
and economies; and help to drive
social, cultural and economic
development. In this regard, we
commit to meet our strategic
targets in transport, ICT, energy
and other social infrastructure
by committing national, regional
and continental resources to this
end;
iv) Take ownership of, use and
develop, our natural endowments
and resources, through value
addition, as the basis for
industrialization; promote intraAfrica trade and tourism, in order
to foster economic integration,
development, employment and
inclusive growth to the benefit of
the African people;
41
vii) Expand and develop urban
infrastructure
and
develop
planned approaches to rapid
urbanization and the emergence
of new cities;
viii) Make our development
agenda responsive to the
needs of our peoples, anchored
on the preservation of our
environment for current and
future generations, including in
the fight against desertification
and mitigation of the effects of
climate change, especially with
regards to island states and landlocked countries.
E. On peace and security
Our determination to achieve the
goal of a conflict-free Africa, to
make peace a reality for all our
people and to rid the continent of
wars, civil conflicts, human rights
violations, humanitarian disasters
and violent conflicts, and to
prevent genocide. We pledge
not to bequeath the burden of
conflicts to the next generation
of Africans and undertake to end
all wars in Africa by 2020. In this
regard, we undertake to:
i) Address the root causes of
conflicts including economic and
social disparities; put an end
to impunity by strengthening
national
and
continental
judicial institutions, and ensure
accountability in line with our
collective responsibility to the
principle of non-indifference;
aspirations of our people;
ii) Eradicate recurrent and address
emerging sources of conflict
including piracy, trafficking in
narcotics and humans, all forms
of extremism, armed rebellions,
terrorism, transnational organized
crime and new crimes such as
cybercrime.
ii) Reiterate our rejection of
unconstitutional
change
of
government, including through
any attempts to seize power by
force but recognize the right of
our people to peacefully express
their will against oppressive
systems;
iii) Push forward the agenda
of
conflict
prevention,
peacemaking, peace support,
national
reconciliation
and
post-conflict reconstruction and
development through the African
Peace and Security Architecture;
as well as, ensure enforcement
of and compliance with peace
agreements and build Africa’s
peace-keeping and enforcement
capacities through the African
Standby Force;
iii) Promote integrity, fight
corruption in the management
of public affairs and promote
leadership that is committed to
the interests of the people;
iv) Maintain a nuclear-free
Africa and call for global nuclear
disarmament, non-proliferation
and peaceful uses of nuclear
energy;
Our determination to take
responsibility for our destiny. We
pledge to foster self-reliance and
self-sufficiency. In this regard,
we undertake to:
v)
Ensure
implementation
on landmines
proliferation of
light weapons;
i) Take ownership of African
issues and provide African
solutions to African problems;
the
effective
of agreements
and the nonsmall arms and
vi) Address the plight of internally
displaced persons and refugees
and eliminate the root causes
of this phenomenon by fully
implementing continental and
universal frameworks.
F. On democratic governance
Our determination to anchor
our societies, governments and
institutions on respect for the
rule of law, human rights and
dignity, popular participation, the
management of diversity, as well
as inclusion and democracy. In
this regard, we undertake to:
i)
Strengthen
democratic
governance including through
decentralized
systems,
the
rule of law and the capacities
of our institutions to meet the
iv) Foster the participation of
our people through democratic
elections
and
ensure
accountability and transparency.
G. On Determining Africa’s
Destiny
ii)
Mobilize
our
domestic
resources, on a predictable and
sustainable basis to strengthen
institutions and advance our
continental agenda;
iii) Take all necessary measures,
using our rich natural endowments
and
human
resources,
to
transform Africa and make it a
leading continent in the area of
innovation and creativity;
H. Africa’s place in the world
Our endeavour for Africa to take
its rightful place in the political,
security, economic, and social
systems of global governance
towards the realization of its
Renaissance and establishing
Africa as a leading continent. We
undertake to:
i) Continue the global struggle
against all forms of racism and
42
discrimination, xenophobia and
related intolerances;
ii) Act in solidarity with oppressed
countries and peoples;
iii)
Advance
international
cooperation that promotes and
defends Africa’s interests, is
mutually beneficial and aligned
to our Pan Africanist vision;
iv) Continue to speak with one
voice and act collectively to
promote our common interests
and positions in the international
arena;
v) Reiterate our commitment
to Africa’s active role in the
globalization
process
and
international forums including
in Financial and Economic
Institutions;
vi) Advocate for our common
position for reform of the United
Nations (UN) and other global
institutions
with
particular
reference to the UN Security
Council, in order to correct the
historical injustice with Africa
as the only region without a
permanent seat.
We pledge to articulate the above
ideals and goals in our national
development plans and in the
development of the Continental
Agenda 2063, through a peopledriven process for the realization
of our vision for an integrated,
people-centred,
prosperous
Africa at peace with itself.
As Heads of State and
Government, mindful of our
responsibility and commitment,
we pledge to act together with
our Peoples and the African
Diaspora to realize our vision
of Pan Africanism and African
Renaissance.
Adopted by the 21st Ordinary
session of the Assembly of
Heads of State and Government
of the African Union, at Addis
Ababa, on 27 May 2013.
DECLARATION DU CINQUANTENAIRE DE L’OUA/UA
Nous, chefs d’État et de
gouvernement de l’Union africaine
(UA), réunis pour célébrer le Jubilé
d’Or de l’Organisation de l’Unité
africaine/Union africaine (OUA/
UA), qui a été créée le 25 mai
1963 dans la ville d’Addis-Abeba
en Éthiopie ;
Évoquant le caractère unique de
l’histoire de l’Afrique en tant que
berceau de l’humanité, centre de
la civilisation, et déshumanisé
par l’esclavage, la déportation,
la dépossession, l’apartheid et le
colonialisme, ainsi que nos luttes
contre ces maux, qui ont façonné
notre destin commun et renforcé
notre solidarité avec les peuples
d’ascendance africaine ;
Rappelant avec fierté le rôle et les
efforts historiques des fondateurs
du mouvement panafricain et des
mouvements nationalistes, dont la
vision, la sagesse, la solidarité et
l’engagement continuent de nous
inspirer;
Réaffirmant notre engagement
aux idéaux du panafricanisme
et l’aspiration de l’Afrique à une
plus grande unité et, rendant
hommage aux Pères fondateurs
de l’Organisation de l’unité
africaine (OUA), ainsi qu’aux
peuples africains du continent
et de la diaspora pour leur lutte
glorieuse et victorieuse contre
toutes les formes d’oppression, le
colonialisme et l’apartheid ;
Conscients du fait que l’OUA/
UA a lutté sans relâche pour
la décolonisation complète du
continent africain et que l’un des
objectifs fondamentaux de l’OUA/
UA est le respect inconditionnel
de la souveraineté et de l’intégrité
territoriale de chacun de ses États
membres ;
Soulignant notre engagement de
bâtir une Afrique unie et intégrée ;
Guidés par la vision de notre Union
et affirmant notre détermination
à « bâtir une Afrique intégrée,
prospère et en paix, tirée par ses
citoyens et constituant une force
dynamique sur la scène mondiale
»;
Résolus à prendre l’entière
responsabilité de la réalisation de
cette vision ;
Guidés
par
les
principes
énoncés dans l’Acte constitutif
de notre Union et par nos valeurs
partagées,
notamment
notre
engagement à assurer l’égalité
entre les hommes et les femmes,
et à adopter une approche centrée
sur les populations dans toutes nos
entreprises, ainsi que le respect
de la souveraineté et de l’intégrité
territoriale de nos États.
RECONNAISSONS QUE :
I. L’Organisation de l’Unité
africaine (OUA) a relevé des
défis tant internes qu’externes,
persévéré dans sa quête d’unité
et de solidarité continentales,
contribué activement à la libération
de l’Afrique du colonialisme et de
l’apartheid, fourni une plate-forme
politique et diplomatique aux
générations de dirigeants qui se
sont succédées pour les questions
continentales et internationales
et a élaboré des cadres pour les
agendas de développement et
d’intégration de l’Afrique à travers
des programmes tels que le
NEPAD et le MAEP.
II. L’Union africaine (UA) a poursuivi
notre lutte pour l’autodétermination,
le développement et l’intégration,
formulé une vision claire pour notre
Union, convenu que l’ultime objectif
de l’Union est de bâtir une Afrique
unie et intégrée, institué le principe
de non-indifférence en conférant à
l’Union le droit d’intervenir dans
les États membres conformément
à l’Acte constitutif, et jeté les
bases pour la consolidation de
l’état de droit, la démocratie, le
respect des droits de l’homme, la
solidarité, la promotion de l’égalité
entre les hommes et les femmes
et l’autonomisation des femmes et
des jeunes en Afrique.
III. La mise en oeuvre du programme
d’intégration,
la
participation
des populations, y compris de la
diaspora aux activités de l’Union,
la quête de paix et de sécurité,
la prévention des conflits et des
génocides comme le génocide
43
rwandais de 1994, l’alignement
de notre cadre institutionnel sur
la vision de l’Union, la lutte contre
la pauvreté, les inégalités et le
sous-développement et donner
à l’Afrique la place qui lui revient
sur la scène internationale restent
encore des défis à relever.
DÉCLARONS,
CONSÉQUENT :
PAR
A. de l’identité africaine et de la
Renaissance africaine
i) Notre ferme détermination
à accélérer la Renaissance
africaine en intégrant, dans toutes
nos politiques et initiatives, les
principes du panafricanisme ;
ii) Notre foi inébranlable en notre
destin commun et en nos valeurs
partagées, l’affirmation de l’identité
africaine, la célébration de l’unité
dans la diversité et l’institution de
la citoyenneté africaine ;
iii) Notre engagement à renforcer
les programmes de l’UA et les
institutions des États membres
visant à revivifier notre identité
culturelle, notre patrimoine, notre
histoire et nos valeurs partagées,
à faire flotter désormais le drapeau
de l’UA à côté de nos drapeaux et
à exécuter l’hymne de l’UA après
nos hymnes nationaux ;
iv) Notre engagement à encourager
et à harmoniser l’enseignement de
l’histoire africaine, des valeurs et
du panafricanisme dans toutes
nos écoles et établissements
d’enseignement
en
vue
de
promouvoir notre identité africaine
et la Renaissance africaine ;
v) Notre engagement à promouvoir
l’organisation d’activités entre
les peuples, notamment les
échanges entre les jeunes et la
société civile afin de renforcer le
panafricanisme.
B. de la lutte contre le
colonialisme et du droit à
l’autodétermination des peuples
encore
sous
domination
coloniale
i) Notre engagement à achever
le processus de décolonisation
en Afrique, à protéger le droit à
l’autodétermination des peuples
africains encore sous domination
coloniale, à promouvoir la solidarité
avec les peuples d’origine africaine
et la diaspora dans leur lutte
contre la discrimination raciale,
et à résister à toutes les formes
d’influences contraires aux intérêts
du continent;
ii) Notre appel pour mettre fin
rapidement à l’occupation illégale
de l’archipel des Chagos, de l’île
comorienne de Mayotte, pour
réaffirmer également le droit du
peuple du Sahara occidental
à l’autodétermination afin de
permettre à ces pays et à leurs
peuples d’exercer effectivement la
souveraineté sur leurs territoires
respectifs.
C. de l’Agenda de l’intégration
Notre
engagement
vis-à-vis
de l’Agenda de l’intégration
politique, sociale et économique
de l’Afrique, et, à cet égard,
notre détermination à accélérer
le processus de réalisation des
objectifs de la Communauté
économique africaine et à prendre
des mesures visant à bâtir une
Afrique unie et intégrée. Tout en
consolidant les engagements et
instruments existants, nous nous
engageons en particulier à :
i) accélérer la mise en oeuvre
de la zone de libre-échange
continentale, assurer la libre
circulation des biens, en mettant
l’accent sur l’intégration des
marchés locaux et régionaux, et
faciliter la citoyenneté africaine
en vue de la libre circulation des
personnes par la suppression
graduelle des obligations de visa ;
ii) accélérer les mesures visant à
bâtir une Afrique unie et intégrée
par la mise en oeuvre de nos
cadres communs de gouvernance,
de démocratie et des droits de
l’homme ; avancer rapidement
vers l’intégration et la fusion des
Communautés
économiques
régionales en tant que piliers de
l’Union.
D.
de
l’Agenda
pour
développement
social
économique
le
et
Notre engagement à placer les
peuples africains, en particulier les
femmes, les enfants, les jeunes
et les personnes vivant avec un
handicap, au centre de nos efforts
et à éradiquer la pauvreté. À cet
égard, nous nous engageons à :
i) développer notre capital humain,
qui est notre ressource la plus
importante à travers l’éducation et
la formation, en accordant la priorité
à la science, à la technologie et à
l’innovation ; et veiller à ce que
l’Afrique occupe la place qui lui
revient et apporte sa contribution
à l’humanité, y compris dans
le domaine de la science et de
l’exploration spatiales ;
ii) éradiquer la maladie, en
particulier
le
VIH/SIDA,
le
paludisme et la tuberculose, veiller
à ce qu’aucune femme africaine
ne meurt en donnant la vie, lutter
contre la mortalité maternelle,
néonatale et infantile et assurer
les services universels de soins de
santé à nos citoyens;
iii) accélérer le développement
des infrastructures en Afrique en
vue de relier les peuples, les pays
et les économies africains, en tant
que moteur du développement
social, culturel et économique. À
cet égard, nous nous engageons à
atteindre nos objectifs stratégiques
dans les domaines du transport,
des TIC, de l’énergie et des
autres infrastructures sociales
en consacrant à cette fin les
ressources nationales, régionales
et continentales;
iv) Créer un environnement
favorable pour le développement
efficace du secteur privé africain
à travers un dialogue constructif
entre le secteur public et le
secteur privé à tous les niveaux,
afin de promouvoir des entreprises
socialement
responsables,
la
bonne gouvernance d’entreprise
et la croissance économique
inclusive ;
v) nous approprier, utiliser et
mettre en valeur nos richesses et
nos ressources naturelles en tant
que base de l’industrialisation,
promouvoir le commerce et le
tourisme intra-africains, en vue de
favoriser l’intégration économique,
le développement, l’emploi et la
croissance inclusive au profit des
peuples d’Afrique ;
44
vi) nous approprier également,
préserver, protéger et utiliser nos
espaces marins et nos ressources
marines, promouvoir nos industries
des transports maritimes au profit
du continent et de ses populations
et partant, à la réalisation de la
sécurité alimentaire ;
vii) préserver nos terres arables
pour les générations actuelle et
future, développer notre économie
rurale, notre production agricole et
notre industrie agroalimentaire afin
d’éradiquer la faim et la malnutrition
et de réaliser la sécurité et
l’autosuffisance alimentaires ;
viii) assurer l’expansion et le
développement des infrastructures
urbaines
et
développer
des
approches
planifiées
à l’urbanisation rapide et à
l’apparition de nouvelles villes ;
ix) faire en sorte que notre
programme de développement
réponde
aux
besoins
de
nos populations et qu’il soit
ancré dans la préservation de
notre environnement pour les
générations actuelle et future,
y compris la lutte contre la
désertification et l’atténuation des
effets du changement climatique,
notamment
dans
les
États
insulaires et les États sans littoral.
E. de la paix et sécurité
Notre détermination à atteindre
l’objectif d’une Afrique sans
conflits, à faire de la paix une
réalité pour toutes nos populations
et à débarrasser le continent des
guerres, des troubles civils, des
violations des droits de l’homme,
des catastrophes humanitaires et
des violents conflits, et à prévenir
le génocide. Nous nous engageons
également à ne pas léguer à la
prochaine génération d’Africains
les lourds fardeaux que sont les
conflits et à venir à bout de toutes
les guerres en Afrique d’ici à 2020.
À cet égard, nous nous engageons
à:
i) nous attaquer aux causes
profondes des conflits, y compris
les inégalités économiques et
sociales, mettre fin à l’impunité
en renforçant les institutions
judiciaires
nationales
et
continentales, et assurer la
responsabilisation conformément
à notre responsabilité collective
quant au principe de nonindifférence ;
systèmes de décentralisation,
l’état de droit et les capacités de
nos institutions, pour répondre aux
aspirations de nos peuples ;
ii) nous attaquer aux sources des
conflits récurrentes et émergentes,
pour les éliminer, notamment
la piraterie, le trafic de drogue
et des êtres humains, toutes
les formes d’extrémisme, les
rébellions armées le terrorisme,
le crime transnational organisé et
les nouveaux crimes tels que la
cybercriminalité ;
ii) réitérer notre rejet de tout
changement anticonstitutionnel de
gouvernement, y compris à travers
toute tentative de prise de pouvoir
par la force, mais reconnaître le
droit de nos peuples de s’exprimer
paisiblement contre les systèmes
d’oppression ;
iii) faire avancer le programme
de
prévention
des
conflits,
d’instauration de la paix, de
soutien à la paix, de réconciliation
nationale, de reconstruction et de
développement post-conflit grâce
à l’Architecture africaine de paix et
de sécurité, veiller à l’application et
au respect des accords de paix et
renforcer les capacités de l’Afrique
dans les domaines de maintien et
de consolidation de la paix grâce à
la Force africaine en attente ;
iv) maintenir l’Afrique comme
zone exempte d’armes nucléaires
et lancer un appel en faveur du
désarmement nucléaire mondial,
de la non-prolifération et de
l’utilisation de l’énergie nucléaire à
des fins pacifiques ;
v) assurer la mise en oeuvre
effective des accords sur les
mines antipersonnel et la nonprolifération des armes légères et
de petit calibre;
vi) trouver des solutions aux
problèmes
des
personnes
déplacées et des réfugiés, et
éliminer les causes profondes
de ce phénomène en appliquant
entièrement
les
cadres
continentaux et universels.
F.
de
la
démocratique
gouvernance
Notre détermination à ancrer nos
sociétés, nos gouvernements et
nos institutions dans le respect
de l’état de droit, de la dignité
et des droits de l’homme, la
participation populaire, la gestion
de la diversité, ainsi que l’inclusion
et la démocratie. À cet égard nous
nous engageons à :
i) renforcer la gouvernance
démocratique, y compris par les
iii) promouvoir l’intégrité, lutter
contre la corruption dans la
gestion des affaires publiques et
promouvoir le leadership engagé
dans la défense des intérêts du
peuple ;
iv) favoriser la participation
populaire à travers les élections
démocratiques,
et
assurer
la
responsabilisation
et
la
transparence.
G. de la détermination de
l’Afrique à prendre en main sa
propre destinée
Notre détermination à prendre
en main notre propre destinée
et notre engagement à favoriser
l’autonomie et l’autosuffisance. À
cet égard, nous nous engageons
à:
i) nous approprier les questions
africaines et à trouver des solutions
africaines aux problèmes africains
;
ii) mobiliser nos ressources
intérieures sur une base prévisible
et durable en vue de renforcer les
institutions et de faire avancer
notre agenda continental ;
iii) prendre toutes les mesures
nécessaires, utiliser nos richesses
naturelles et nos ressources
humaines
pour
transformer
l’Afrique en un continent-chef
de file dans les domaines de
l’innovation et de la créativité.
H. de la place de l’Afrique sur la
scène mondiale
Notre engagement à amener
l’Afrique à prendre la place qui
lui revient dans les systèmes
politique, sécuritaire, économique,
et social de gouvernance mondiale
pour lui permettre de réaliser sa
Renaissance en la portant au rang
de continent-chef de file. À cet
45
égard, nous nous engageons à :
i) poursuivre la lutte mondiale
contre toutes formes de racisme et
de discrimination, la xénophobie et
les intolérances connexes ;
ii) agir en solidarité avec les pays
et les peuples opprimés ;
iii) renforcer la coopération
internationale
en
vue
de
promouvoir et de défendre les
intérêts de l’Afrique, coopération
mutuellement
avantageuse
et conforme à notre vision du
panafricanisme ;
iv) continuer à parler d’une seule
voix et agir collectivement pour
promouvoir nos intérêts communs
et nos positions communes dans
l’arène internationale ;
v) réitérer notre engagement à
donner à l’Afrique un rôle actif dans
le processus de mondialisation et
dans les forums internationaux,
notamment dans les institutions
financières et économiques ;
vi)
défendre
notre
position
commune concernant la réforme
des Nations Unies et d’autres
institutions
mondiales,
en
particulier le Conseil de sécurité
des Nations Unies afin de corriger
l’injustice historique dont est
victime l’Afrique, la seule région
n’ayant pas un siège permanent
au Conseil de sécurité des Nations
unies.
Notre engagement à consigner les
idéaux et les objectifs ci-dessus
dans nos plans de développement
nationaux et à les prendre en
compte dans l’élaboration de notre
Agenda à l’horizon 2063 grâce à
un processus axé sur les peuples,
pour la réalisation de notre vision
d’une Afrique intégrée, prospère et
en paix avec elle-même.
En notre qualité de chefs d’État et
de gouvernement conscients de
notre responsabilité et de notre
engagement, sommes résolus à
agir de concert avec nos peuples et
la diaspora africaine pour réaliser
notre vision du Panafricanisme et
de la Renaissance africaine.
Adoptée par la vingt et unième session
ordinaire de la Conférence des chefs d’État et
de gouvernement de l’Union africaine
Addis-Abeba, le 26 mai 2013.
Join
all Africans and Friends of Africa who are contributing to the AGENDA 2063!
agenda2063.au.int
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AGENDA 2063
“A global strategy to optimize use of Africa’s resources for the benefits of all Africans”
Aiming to encourage discussion among all stakeholders, “Agenda 2063” is an approach
to how the continent should effectively learn from the lessons of the past, build on the
progress now underway and strategically exploit all possible opportunities available in
the short, medium and long term, so as to ensure positive socioeconomic transformation
within the next 50 years.
The Bureau of the Chairperson,
P.O. Box 3243 Roosevelt Street (Old Airport Area)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: +251-115-517700 ext 2918
Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44
EMAIL: agenda2063@africa-union.org
Website : http://agenda2063.au.int
46