GCIS Communication Centre: PRETORIA NEWS: May 26 2015 pg 9

Alice

Pouane

A moment for Africa

to shine

UST over 12 years ago African Jleaders gathered in Durban for

the first AU Summit. At that auspicious event they

pledged to the people of Africa and the world that through the forma- tion of the AU, the continent was sig- nalling a new beginning.

The AU emerged from the Organ- isation of African Unity (OAU) which oversaw the affairs of the continent for 39 years.

It was, however, abundantly clear that the time was right for a new revamped institution A one that would build on the successes of the OAU and take the aspirations of our people forward.

It is an honour that after the his- toric formation of the AU on our shores our country has again been chosen to host the AU Summit from June 7-15. As we prepare to welcome our fellow Africans, we do so with pride knowing that our continent has come a long way in achieving the objectives set out in Durban.

South Africa has consistently played an integral part in the forma- tion of the AU‘s institutions, policies and procedures, including the cre- ation of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the AU Peace and Secu- rity Council, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and the African Peer Review Mechanism.

Since 2002, we have endeavoured to achieve unity, solidarity, cohe- sion and co-operation on the African continent. This has been under- pinned by our belief that the success of the African Agenda depends on strong bilateral relations with all African countries.

Over the years we have promoted the AU as a continental institution of governance and development, helping to establish and strengthen the AU Commission to implement decisions of the AU Assembly and the AU Council.

As South Africa and the conti- nent, we have made good progress towards women’s empowerment and gender equality

This is demonstrated by sound legislative frameworks, institutional mechanisms and arrangements that have been put in place to promote women’s rights, empowerment and gender equality and the achieve- ments in the representation of women in political and decision- making positions in the public and private sectors.

We are nevertheless still faced with major challenges and crises on the continent that impact dispropor- tionately on women and girls.

The AU is at the forefront of the drive for peace, security and stabil- ity on the continent. We believe there can be no sustainable develop- ment without these. We are in agree- ment that dialogue and peaceful res- olution of conflicts are the only way to guarantee enduring peace and stability for our people. We have joined the chorus of

African voices condemning acts of terrorism that are committed in countries like Nigeria, Somalia and Kenya. It is incumbent on all of us to pool our resources to defeat ter- rorism in the interest of peace and stability

A key task we have set ourselves is to ensure the successful imple- mentation of Agenda 2063. It is a call for action, a strategic framework and road map to achieve continental development goals.

It is an opportunity for Africa to again be the master of its own des- tiny, and is underpinned by the AU vision to build an integrated, pros- perous and peaceful Africa, an Africa driven and managed by its

citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena.

Across the continent we are wit- nessing a commitment to the regional economic integration which will enable the free move- ment of goods, services, people and capital between national markets. This is fundamental to achieving robust and equitable growth in Africa.

The regional integration agenda ensures that African producers have access to regional markets and that they are integrated into more pro- ductive regional value chains.

It includes integrating financial markets for easy capital flow among national economies. In addition, it

promotes the free movement of labour for more efficient regional labour markets and improved access to skilled labour for specialist pro- duction. As our leaders proudly pro- claimed in 2002, this is a moment of hope for our continent and its peo- ples. We shall continue to act together to build a brighter future for the people of Africa.

God bless Africa, God bless the AU O Alice Pouane is the acting chief

executive of BrandSA.