Good
People of the World,
I
give credit to Maina Nderitu for commenting slightly on the African leaders take
on anti-ICC battle to the UN. Atleast Nderitu said something he believes on,
sentiments that I do not agree with. Why would the rest of African people
remain quite. Are they happy with this arrangement. It means people expect fate
or vacuum space to speak for them, and It is why they are being taken advantage
of. It is time Africans wake up and begin to defend their rights, by step of
faith, Africans must uniting for common good and by a show of majority
strength they must support an opinion that are in their favor..........No right
thinking human being will perish in silence...........
I
stood for justice and put my life on line for Kenya to dispute Kibaki’s win in
the wake where 2007/8 things fall apart, and former President Bush declared
President Kibaki winner. I stepped in, made my voice heard on behalf of the
voiceless and organized a demonstration of more than 300 people to confront Bush
Administration with facts. It was a turning point where true justice was finally
delivered by the formation of a Commission of Eminent African Leaders led by
Kofi Annan who established a Coalition Government in Kenya between Kibaki and
Raila that finally was able to deliver the Reform Accord Agenda for the New
Constitution of Kenya.
To
say the least, once again; on behalf of the voiceless and for the voice of
reason, I express feelings of disgust, disappointment and we are ashamed that
African leaders at the UN New York conference degenerate without principle,
concern or value to human rights respect or dignity and bowing down desperately
to sell off Africa in a free
loader shameless manner with intention to evade justice at the
International office of the UN. Their purpose is to cover-up wickedness and evil
doing of their network of International special business interest partners, who
sponsor them in their massacre, atrocities and genocide in the nature of crime,
violation and abuse against human rights. It is despicable (contemptible, ugly,
unworthy, vile) that this is taking place in the 21st century in the
watch of all great men and women, people of African descent of the world.
It
is unbelievable that scores of men and women of African descent are not coming
forward in large numbers to condemn this act of conspiracy theories of barbaric
hooliganism lacking respect and dignity for moral values and virtues’ of
Africanisation and call it for what it is in the crudest and ugliest language
known on earth.
Because of scarcity of time, to throw some light
and prove topical points in summary, I wish to state the following on behalf of
many:
1)
If Kenya was not able to provide security to save a situation at Wastegate in
Nairobi attack because of disoriented and dysfunctional failed policing at
Wastegate, in a polarized confused situation in the present Kenya, how will they
provide a justified and trusted organize legal justice dispensation without fear
or intimidation from external forces. Considering the magnitude where 2007/8
massacre was not only done by local people, but supported by the likes of
Museveni and it is believed by many that Musevenis private military featured a
great deal, where it ambushed, attacked and killed many people in Luo Nyanza
region and where almost immediately after the attack, Museveni was rewarded with
a gift of Migingo Island. How did Museveni acquire Migingo Island and hoisted
his Country’s flag with Uganda Police to take charge and killed many Luo
fishermen if there was no conspiracy plan where Kenya leadership engaged
Museveni to do the unthinkable to Kenyans inside Kenyan land. If Kenya takes the
case back from ICC Hague, how will Museveni be brought forward to face justice
against the illegal territorial sovereign invasion of
Kenya?
2)
How will we ever know who the paymasters of Museveni were and why he together
with his brother Salim Saleh from Somalia with Kagame, united to terrorize,
maimed and commit genocide atrocities on Congo and the Great Lakes of East
Africa with the use of M23 Militia group holed up in Congo Land and Al-shabaab
holed in Kenya??? What are they up to???
3)
Now that the Al-shabaab of Somalia origin is suspected to be led by Salim Saleh
network of Islamic Fundamentalist Militia Group for purposes of terrorizing the
Great Lakes Region of East Africa, if the Kenyan ICC Hague matter is returned
back to Kenya, how will we ever know how M23 became a factor for terrorizing
Congo and Al-shabaab became a factor on Wastegate attack because in truth, Kenya
have no powers to prosecute Al-shabaab or Salim Saleh, or even Museveni for that
matter which has turned a criminal threat to the international community and
must be dealt at the international stage. How will Kenya provide the
International stage to prosecute these crimes of humanity in the Great Lakes of
East Africa ???
4)
If the international community want to eliminate terror group from spreading
their attacking and becoming a nuisance terrorizing the whole world, Kenya
situation is the turning-point,
where the conspiracy to commit massacre, atrocities and genocide was documented and
arrested; the network of planners and financiers as special business
interest who span across the cities and nations of the world, need to be known
and face the law, so things can begin to be done the right way.
We
need to know why Jendayi Fraser too became a subject of the matter starting with
Ethiopia down to Uganda, Congo and Rwanda and into South Africa and whose
foot-prints have been traced and noted up to the recent past where her boasting
comments and support were noted in Kenya’s electioneering. We need to know why,
a few people of the world engage in business of massacre and wiping out Africa
to re-colonize Africa for their advantage and greed. This was coupled with Jesse
Jackson coming to Kenya to intervene in Uniting Raila and Uhuru to join in the
leadership of Kenya for their unfinished business, which is this unfinished
business that was not incorporated in the Manifesto of the Coalition Government
or transferred in the Constitution policy agreement……..people want to know if
the unfinished business have a lot to do with the poverty in Africa,
extra-judicial killings, massacre, atrocities and genocide crime against
humanity in the Region of Africa; and whether it has anything to do with the
recent Scramble for Africa land
with the illicit theft of free loading of
Africa’s wealth and mineral resources and why Africa is in constant
extreme poverty level, pain and sufferings???
There are fears that names shall be named and these
few greedy special business interest fear their names being published on the
International Platform, but if this is not done at the ICC Hague, the special
business interest network will not stop massacring poor innocent Africans. This
ugly business has turned cronic cancer and it is spreading faster to the
international community and therefore it must be stop and put to rest. It is
because, all people have rights to leave a honorable and dignified livelihood.
5)
Who is sponsoring and financing these private Militia Armies of Museveni and
Kagame??? Who is the benefactor of crime, violation and abuse of human rights
with environmental pollution in Africa………and How shall the world know the truth
ICC Hague is not given opportunity to prosecute the injustices through the
International network of the United Nations???
6) Once again, I am forced to believe that these
African Union leaders have formed a banker to save their skin from their
injustices in Africa.
7)
We must avoid sacrificing one individual for the sin of many, and in this case,
Ruto stand to be sacrificed alone as a lamb for slaughter, if the matter shall
switch back to Kenya and this is unacceptable……It is here that Uhuru shall take
Moi’s son to replace Ruto to appease the Kalenjins and this shall be the worst
condemnation and a curse for Africa
8)
In the instances of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and the Delta regions,
are historically made up of very rich mineral resources, with culturally rich
traditions yet daily life remains painfully a struggle for many as years go by,
if ICC Hague fail to bring injustices to end in Kenya; third world war will lit
the whole world, which is why terrorism has spread out and are holed up into
Western World of European countries. Ask yourself why China is sitting pretty
saying nothing about Kenyas attack of Westgate, yet they have spread all over
the country and they are the beneficiaries of 90% of the Country’s Government
Contracts ???
9)
Government leadership of the world cannot deliver if it is paralyzed and is
obstructed from functioning by the conspiracies of the Special Business Interest
groups who financed Pirating, drug peddling, off-shoring business that evade
paying taxes, the illegal currency laundering and the paying of the private
militia groups who protect the network of the few special business interest
selfish greed.
10)
All people are equal before the law and all must play by the same set of rules
for mutual common good of all. It is sad that these 1% of the global network of
the special business interest control the United Nations and the World Bank to
serve their selfish greed; and they have totally weakened these institutions
from working the way they should and justice have been thrown out of the
window……..
It
is therefore, ICC Hague must be given a chance to prosecute the injustices that
have pulled down Africa into a pathetic sorry state of extra-judicial killings
and massacres, down trodden extreme poverty, pain and sufferings. Africa must be
saved from these heineous acts of hooliganism with human rights crime,
violations and abuse.
It is time to take a deep breath and rethink how to
better improve the Global Region marketplace to provide opportunity fair to all
without threats, fear-factor, intimidation, manipulation or monopoly.
The
world shall become a happy place and full of love where mankind is free to evoke
their strengths for innovation and improve lives under fair mutual competitive
challenges of “Give and Take” and
where opportunities are free for all to those who strive in their
endeavors.
As the
world watches the proceedings at the UN at New York, we expect all participants
to remain realistic and truthful relevant on the face of injustices with acts of
crime, violation and abuse of Human Rights.
We
also Pray for President Obama to remain focused under prevailing difficult
challenges at home and abroad and give him strength to engage without fear or
favor at the UN meeting and advice accordingly.
May
God help us all to engage constructively and face this overwhelming challenge
for the good of all.
Judy
Miriga
Diaspora
Spokesperson &Executive Director for
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
email: jbatec@yahoo.com
-----
Forwarded Message -----
From: maina ndiritu
To: "youngprofessionals_ke@googlegroups.com" ; africa yahoogroups ; forum ; VVM Vuguvugu Mashinani ; the last word to kenya
Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2013 5:12 AM
Subject: African leaders take anti-ICC battle to the UN
The International Criminal Court "has degenerated into a
political
Kenya should be allowed to "investigate and prosecute the cases under
a reformed judiciary" provided for in the country's new Constitution,
said Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in a speech at the United
Nations.
Mr Hailemariam's attack on the ICC's handling of the Kenya cases is
the second launched by an African leader at the United Nations General
Assembly in New York in the past 24 hours.
The ICC's recent refusal to permit the trials of President Uhuru
Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto to take place in Kenya is
"unhelpful," Mr Hailemariam further said.
He suggested that the ICC's insistence on holding the trials in The
Noting that the United Nations has given "no response" to the AU's
request for a deferral of the ICC prosecutions of Kenyans, Mr
Hailemariam concluded his remarks on Wednesday by again urging the UN
al-Bashir.
Mr Bashir, who has been seeking to travel to New York, is charged with
genocide and crimes against humanity in connection with the conflict
instrument
targeting Africa" and is "adversely affecting" Kenya,
Ethiopia's prime minister declared Wednesday on behalf of the
African
Union.
Kenya should be allowed to "investigate and prosecute the cases under
a reformed judiciary" provided for in the country's new Constitution,
said Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in a speech at the United
Nations.
"We believe it
is very critical to support the peace building and
national
reconciliation processes in the country," the leader of
Ethiopia, which currently chairs the 54-member AU,
added.Mr Hailemariam's attack on the ICC's handling of the Kenya cases is
the second launched by an African leader at the United Nations General
Assembly in New York in the past 24 hours.
Ugandan Head of
State Yoweri Museveni also criticised the ICC's role
in Kenya
specifically and Africa generally in a speech on Tuesday.
The ICC's recent refusal to permit the trials of President Uhuru
Kenyatta and Deputy President Ruto to take place in Kenya is
"unhelpful," Mr Hailemariam further said.
He suggested that the ICC's insistence on holding the trials in The
Hague is
"adversely affecting the ability of the Kenyan leaders in
discharging their constitutional
responsibilities."Noting that the United Nations has given "no response" to the AU's
request for a deferral of the ICC prosecutions of Kenyans, Mr
Hailemariam concluded his remarks on Wednesday by again urging the UN
Security Council
to respond.
The Ethiopian PM
earlier in his speech reiterated the organisation's
request for a deferral of the proceedings against Sudan
President Omaral-Bashir.
Mr Bashir, who has been seeking to travel to New York, is charged with
genocide and crimes against humanity in connection with the conflict
in Sudan's
Darfur region.
--------------------------------------------------
African leaders take anti-ICC
battle to the UN
Mr.
President,
It is with great pleasure
that I congratulate you on your election to
this high office to preside over the 68th session of the General
Assembly, which will be held under the theme: "Post-2015 Development
Agenda: Setting the Stage". I wish to assure you of the full support
and cooperation of my delegation in the successful discharge of your
heavy responsibilities. I would also like to commend your predecessor
for the able leadership he demonstrated during the previous session.
Mr. President,
Let me begin by condemning the terrorist attacks in Kenya that claimed
the lives of innocent civilians and left many more injured. I wish to
express my heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Kenya
as well as to the families of the victims of this callous attack. This
incident once again necessitates the need for us to renew our
commitment to fight terrorism and extremism in all its forms and
manifestations.
Mr. President,
I am addressing this Assembly today not only on behalf of my country
but also representing the African Union, which Ethiopia is honored to
Chair this year. It is a welcome coincidence that Ethiopia, which
played host to the founding Conference of the Organization of African
Unity (OAU) 50 years ago, assumed the rotating Chairmanship of this
premier continental organization at a time when its Golden Jubilee is
being celebrated.
We are indeed very pleased to have hosted the Special Summit of
African Heads of State and Government that marked the Golden Jubilee
of the OAU/AU on 25 May 2013, and I would like to take this
opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who sent
their delegations to Addis Ababa to take part in the celebration and
conveyed their messages of support and solidarity to the African
Union. Since the Fiftieth Anniversary will be a year-long event, we
would like to continue marking this historic milestone during this
session of the General Assembly by reflecting on the relations between
the United Nations and the OAU/AU over the last fifty years.
When the United Nations Charter was signed in 1945, much of Africa was
under the yoke of colonialism. Since then, our continent has been
liberated from the remnants of colonialism and other forms of
subjugation. Today, it is gratifying to note that African countries
constitute one of the largest groups in the United Nations General
Assembly. I wish to seize this occasion to express my profound
appreciation to the United Nations for its invaluable contribution in
the decolonization process. However, we should not lose sight of the
fact that not all the challenges we face in this struggle have been
definitively settled, nor can we say the decolonization process has
come to an end in all its forms. We should, therefore, renew our
commitment to the
completion of the decolonization process in Africa.
Mr. President,
In accordance with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, the UN
has indeed been working closely with the African Union and other
regional mechanisms to advance its cardinal objectives. Over the last
more than five decades, the cooperation and partnership between the
OAU/AU and the United Nations has significantly expanded and deepened
in a wide range of aspects and fields. We acknowledge with deep
respect the meaningful cooperation the United Nations has provided to
the then OAU and now the African Union to address the multifaceted
challenges facing our continent. This notwithstanding, however, we are
cognizant of the fact that a lot remains to be done to further enhance
the cooperation and partnership between the African Union and the
United Nations in the
context of the changing dynamics both within Africa and the world at
large. I earnestly hope that this historic occasion will afford us a
unique opportunity to seriously reflect on our challenges and
shortcomings with a view to strengthening our cooperation and
partnership to better respond to the changing environment. I believe
we need to adopt a flexible and innovative approach in the
implementation of Chapter VIII of the UN Charter to enhance our
partnership with the objective of addressing our common challenges.
Mr. President,
We are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the OAU/AU at a time when the
stereotypical narrative about Africa as a continent afflicted by
poverty, diseases and conflicts has started to change slowly. In spite
of so many difficulties that still persist, Africa has indeed turned
the corner in reducing the number of conflicts plaguing the continent
and promoting democratic governance as well as fighting poverty
through accelerated economic growth and development. With its enhanced
peace and stability, rapid economic growth, natural resource endowment
and a growing middle class, Africa is certainly on the rise and this
is attracting a lot of attention from the rest of the world. The 21st
century will be an African century if indeed we harmonize our efforts
to maintain and indeed speed up the rapid economic growth that Africa
has been registering for the last decade or so. We have every reason
to be optimistic that African renaissance is indeed around the corner.
This positive development is no doubt encouraging but we recognize
that we can only achieve our aspirations for a peaceful, prosperous
and integrated Africa by bringing about structural transformation.
That is why we are capitalizing on the Golden Jubilee celebration to
chart a transformation agenda for Africa, which will be implemented
over the next fifty years. We have also adopted the Strategic Plan of
our Commission for the years 2014-2017 in our last session in May
2013, whose main objective is to lay a solid foundation for the
realization of our vision in the short and medium term.
Mr. President,
It is indeed opportune that we are engaged in crafting our
transformation agenda when intergovernmental negotiations have also
started in earnest to develop the Post-2015 global development
framework. I am glad that this session of the General Assembly will
debate on this issue and I commend the High Level Panel Co-Chaired by
Presidents of Indonesia and Liberia as well as and the Prime Minister
the United Kingdom for presenting a comprehensive report to the
Secretary- General. I hope this report will provide valuable inputs to
our discussion on the Post-2015 Development Agenda during this session
of the General Assembly.
Africa no doubt attaches paramount importance to this important issue
and it has constituted a High Level Committee of Heads of State and
Government to develop a common position and galvanize international
support to ensure that the successes thus far achieved in the
implementation of the MDGs are sustained and its development
priorities beyond 2015 are fully taken on board. As our able Executive
Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
aptly put it, "what Africa needs is structural transformation and not
structural adjustment". The development agenda that we are trying to
set for Africa over the next 50 years is also aimed at achieving this
fundamental objective with a view to eradicating poverty and ensuring
sustainable development. With respect to the work of the Open Working
Group on Sustainable Development Goals, we intend to come up with a
well thought-out African position as an outcome of the initiative of
our troika: the AU Commission, the UNECA and the African Development
Bank. In this context, we want to achieve a green revolution in Africa
and ensure the food security of our peoples. The theme of the African
Union in 2014 will be Agriculture and Food Security and promotion of
CAADP, which will allow us to reinforce our commitment for the
transformation of the agricultural sector in Africa. We are also
convinced of the need for Africa to industrialize in order to
accelerate its economic growth and generate employment, increase
income and diversify exports. This can be done so on the basis of our
factor endowments and taking into account the need for us to backward
linkages. It poverty is downright increase value addition and exploit
forward and cannot be emphasized enough that overcoming unsustainable
without structural transformation and value addition which makes
industrialization not an option but a must, unavoidable necessity for
Africa. Let me state here how grateful we
are to all those who have made partnership available to us to ensure
that Africa develops the capacity for modern and affordable energy
without which industrialization would be impossible to achieve
Furthermore, we would like to invest in infrastructure, which has been
neglected over the past decades, to promote intra-African trade and
fast-track regional integration. We are also committed to redouble our
efforts in improving the overall wellbeing of our society.
Particularly, we believe that Africa should reap the benefits of its
demographic dividend by investing in its people. Educating our youth
and upgrading their skills is critical to effectively utilize our
human capital. Therefore, we very much hope that the global
development framework beyond 2015 will be aligned to our development
priorities and needs.
Mr. President,
We in Africa certainly recognize that we cannot realize our
development aspirations in the absence of durable peace and security.
That is the reason why we have dedicated tremendous efforts to
addressing the scourge of conflicts in our continent. We are indeed
very pleased to note the drastic decline in the number of conflicts in
Africa in the course of the last decade with the exception of few
situations. But we also understand that there is a new security
dynamics in our continent with the rise of popular dissatisfaction in
connection with demands yet
unmet.
In this regard, the African Union has been exerting efforts to assist
Egypt - a member State whose contribution to the decolonization
process in our continent and to African Unity has been second to none
- in overcoming its current difficulties in the spirit of African
solidarity. The African Union is also extending all the necessary
support to Tunisia in order to ensure a successful political
transition through the adoption of a new constitution and the holding
of elections. On the other hand, we welcome the successful conduct of
elections in Mali that paved the way for the restoration of
constitutional order in that country. The African Union is indeed
firmly committed to continue assisting Mali in its efforts to ensure
lasting peace, security and development. We draw satisfaction from the
significant progress made in Somalia towards peace in the country and
we are also encouraged by the agreement reached between the Somalia
Federal Government and the Juba Interim Administration, which
constitutes a significant milestone in promoting peace and national
reconciliation. at the Somalia Conference in Brussels certainly
strengthen the momentum for building of the country. The New Deal
announced on 16 September 2013, will the reconstruction and peace
Mr. President,
The security and humanitarian situation in Central African Republic
still remains to be a matter of serious concern. I wish to reiterate
our call to the United Nations to provide multifaceted support to the
African-led International Support Mission in Central African Republic
(AFISM-CAR), which will be deployed in that country to protect
civilians and restore security and public order. On the other hand,
the escalation of tension in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
also poses threats to the peace and security of the Great Lakes region
and the continent as a whole. The only durable solution is for both
the Government and the armed opposition to conclude their peace talks
under the auspices of the International Conference for the Great Lakes
Region (ICGLR). In this regard, I would like to welcome the outcome of
the extraordinary Summit of ICGLR in Kampala on 5 September 2013. With
regard to the relations between Sudan and South Sudan, the African
Union in close collaboration with IGAD has established an Ad- Hoc
Investigation Mechanism (AIM) to verify allegations made by the two
countries of supporting and harboring dissident elements one against
the other. The team is carrying out its work and I am hopeful that the
outcome of this investigation will help the two countries to move
forward in the implementation of the agreements that they have signed
and the normalization of their relations. On a more practical level,
the regular engagement that the leaders of the two countries are
having will go a long way in breaking the impasse and resolving some
of the difficult outstanding issues.
Mr. President,
I would like to raise one important issue, which has been a matter of
serious concern for us in our efforts to promote peace, security and
national reconciliation in the continent and regarding which there is
a strong consensus in Africa. We in Africa, time and again, have
affirmed our unflinching commitment to fighting impunity and promoting
democracy, rule of law and good governance throughout the continent in
conformity with the Constitutive Act of our Union. This has been
empirically validated by bold actions taken by the AU in recent times.
When it comes to the ICC many of our member States ratified the Rome
Statutes faithfully subscribing to its cardinal objectives and
principles. Unfortunately, the manner in which the International
Criminal Court (ICC) has been operating left a very bad impression in
Africa. Instead of promoting justice and reconciliation and
contributing to peace and stability, it has degenerated into a
political instrument targeting Africa and Africans. This is totally
unacceptable and that is why Africa has been expressing its serious
reservation against the ICC. It is regrettable that our repeated
request to the United Nations Security Council to defer the
proceedings initiated against President A1- Bashir has neither been
heard nor acted upon. We have also received no 11 response for our
request for a deferralof the ICC investigations and prosecutions in
relation to the 2008 post election violence in Kenya, in line with the
principle of complementarity, to allow for a NationalMechanism to
investigate and prosecute the cases under a reformed Judiciary
provided for in the new constitutional dispensation. In light of the
encouraging developments in Kenya with theadoption of the new
Constitution, the reform of the Judiciary and theholding of successful
legislative and presidential elections, we believe it is
very critical to support the peace building and national
reconciliation processes in the country. In this regard, the recent
decision of the ICC in relation to the Kenyan situation is unhelpful
adversely affecting the ability of the Kenyan leaders in discharging
their constitutional responsibilities. Therefore, I would like to take
this opportunity to onceagain urge the United Nations Security Council
to respond to our requests.
Mr. President,
In an increasingly globalized and multipolar world, Africa obviously
needs to forge multiple partnerships to realize its development
aspirations and assume its rightful place in the international arena.
In this regard, it gives me great satisfaction to note that Africa's
strategic partnership with both developed and emerging economies has
expandedand deepened in recent years. This is the path we wish to
pursue. Africa needs the solidarity of all sections of the
international community and it is our hope that all the necessary
support would be extended to Africa in
the spirit of the Millennium Declaration, which has underlined so
empathically the special situation of Africa. This, in our view,
should bethe spirit with which the deficit in the implementation of
MDG 8 must be treated during the very short remaining period of the
MDGs.As I conclude, Mr. President, I wish to underline Africa's
enduring commitment to this indispensible global body - a universal
organization whose viability is an existential necessity. It is in
that spirit that Africa will continue to nurture its close cooperation
with the UN.
this high office to preside over the 68th session of the General
Assembly, which will be held under the theme: "Post-2015 Development
Agenda: Setting the Stage". I wish to assure you of the full support
and cooperation of my delegation in the successful discharge of your
heavy responsibilities. I would also like to commend your predecessor
for the able leadership he demonstrated during the previous session.
Mr. President,
Let me begin by condemning the terrorist attacks in Kenya that claimed
the lives of innocent civilians and left many more injured. I wish to
express my heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Kenya
as well as to the families of the victims of this callous attack. This
incident once again necessitates the need for us to renew our
commitment to fight terrorism and extremism in all its forms and
manifestations.
Mr. President,
I am addressing this Assembly today not only on behalf of my country
but also representing the African Union, which Ethiopia is honored to
Chair this year. It is a welcome coincidence that Ethiopia, which
played host to the founding Conference of the Organization of African
Unity (OAU) 50 years ago, assumed the rotating Chairmanship of this
premier continental organization at a time when its Golden Jubilee is
being celebrated.
We are indeed very pleased to have hosted the Special Summit of
African Heads of State and Government that marked the Golden Jubilee
of the OAU/AU on 25 May 2013, and I would like to take this
opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who sent
their delegations to Addis Ababa to take part in the celebration and
conveyed their messages of support and solidarity to the African
Union. Since the Fiftieth Anniversary will be a year-long event, we
would like to continue marking this historic milestone during this
session of the General Assembly by reflecting on the relations between
the United Nations and the OAU/AU over the last fifty years.
When the United Nations Charter was signed in 1945, much of Africa was
under the yoke of colonialism. Since then, our continent has been
liberated from the remnants of colonialism and other forms of
subjugation. Today, it is gratifying to note that African countries
constitute one of the largest groups in the United Nations General
Assembly. I wish to seize this occasion to express my profound
appreciation to the United Nations for its invaluable contribution in
the decolonization process. However, we should not lose sight of the
fact that not all the challenges we face in this struggle have been
definitively settled, nor can we say the decolonization process has
come to an end in all its forms. We should, therefore, renew our
commitment to the
completion of the decolonization process in Africa.
Mr. President,
In accordance with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, the UN
has indeed been working closely with the African Union and other
regional mechanisms to advance its cardinal objectives. Over the last
more than five decades, the cooperation and partnership between the
OAU/AU and the United Nations has significantly expanded and deepened
in a wide range of aspects and fields. We acknowledge with deep
respect the meaningful cooperation the United Nations has provided to
the then OAU and now the African Union to address the multifaceted
challenges facing our continent. This notwithstanding, however, we are
cognizant of the fact that a lot remains to be done to further enhance
the cooperation and partnership between the African Union and the
United Nations in the
context of the changing dynamics both within Africa and the world at
large. I earnestly hope that this historic occasion will afford us a
unique opportunity to seriously reflect on our challenges and
shortcomings with a view to strengthening our cooperation and
partnership to better respond to the changing environment. I believe
we need to adopt a flexible and innovative approach in the
implementation of Chapter VIII of the UN Charter to enhance our
partnership with the objective of addressing our common challenges.
Mr. President,
We are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the OAU/AU at a time when the
stereotypical narrative about Africa as a continent afflicted by
poverty, diseases and conflicts has started to change slowly. In spite
of so many difficulties that still persist, Africa has indeed turned
the corner in reducing the number of conflicts plaguing the continent
and promoting democratic governance as well as fighting poverty
through accelerated economic growth and development. With its enhanced
peace and stability, rapid economic growth, natural resource endowment
and a growing middle class, Africa is certainly on the rise and this
is attracting a lot of attention from the rest of the world. The 21st
century will be an African century if indeed we harmonize our efforts
to maintain and indeed speed up the rapid economic growth that Africa
has been registering for the last decade or so. We have every reason
to be optimistic that African renaissance is indeed around the corner.
This positive development is no doubt encouraging but we recognize
that we can only achieve our aspirations for a peaceful, prosperous
and integrated Africa by bringing about structural transformation.
That is why we are capitalizing on the Golden Jubilee celebration to
chart a transformation agenda for Africa, which will be implemented
over the next fifty years. We have also adopted the Strategic Plan of
our Commission for the years 2014-2017 in our last session in May
2013, whose main objective is to lay a solid foundation for the
realization of our vision in the short and medium term.
Mr. President,
It is indeed opportune that we are engaged in crafting our
transformation agenda when intergovernmental negotiations have also
started in earnest to develop the Post-2015 global development
framework. I am glad that this session of the General Assembly will
debate on this issue and I commend the High Level Panel Co-Chaired by
Presidents of Indonesia and Liberia as well as and the Prime Minister
the United Kingdom for presenting a comprehensive report to the
Secretary- General. I hope this report will provide valuable inputs to
our discussion on the Post-2015 Development Agenda during this session
of the General Assembly.
Africa no doubt attaches paramount importance to this important issue
and it has constituted a High Level Committee of Heads of State and
Government to develop a common position and galvanize international
support to ensure that the successes thus far achieved in the
implementation of the MDGs are sustained and its development
priorities beyond 2015 are fully taken on board. As our able Executive
Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
aptly put it, "what Africa needs is structural transformation and not
structural adjustment". The development agenda that we are trying to
set for Africa over the next 50 years is also aimed at achieving this
fundamental objective with a view to eradicating poverty and ensuring
sustainable development. With respect to the work of the Open Working
Group on Sustainable Development Goals, we intend to come up with a
well thought-out African position as an outcome of the initiative of
our troika: the AU Commission, the UNECA and the African Development
Bank. In this context, we want to achieve a green revolution in Africa
and ensure the food security of our peoples. The theme of the African
Union in 2014 will be Agriculture and Food Security and promotion of
CAADP, which will allow us to reinforce our commitment for the
transformation of the agricultural sector in Africa. We are also
convinced of the need for Africa to industrialize in order to
accelerate its economic growth and generate employment, increase
income and diversify exports. This can be done so on the basis of our
factor endowments and taking into account the need for us to backward
linkages. It poverty is downright increase value addition and exploit
forward and cannot be emphasized enough that overcoming unsustainable
without structural transformation and value addition which makes
industrialization not an option but a must, unavoidable necessity for
Africa. Let me state here how grateful we
are to all those who have made partnership available to us to ensure
that Africa develops the capacity for modern and affordable energy
without which industrialization would be impossible to achieve
Furthermore, we would like to invest in infrastructure, which has been
neglected over the past decades, to promote intra-African trade and
fast-track regional integration. We are also committed to redouble our
efforts in improving the overall wellbeing of our society.
Particularly, we believe that Africa should reap the benefits of its
demographic dividend by investing in its people. Educating our youth
and upgrading their skills is critical to effectively utilize our
human capital. Therefore, we very much hope that the global
development framework beyond 2015 will be aligned to our development
priorities and needs.
Mr. President,
We in Africa certainly recognize that we cannot realize our
development aspirations in the absence of durable peace and security.
That is the reason why we have dedicated tremendous efforts to
addressing the scourge of conflicts in our continent. We are indeed
very pleased to note the drastic decline in the number of conflicts in
Africa in the course of the last decade with the exception of few
situations. But we also understand that there is a new security
dynamics in our continent with the rise of popular dissatisfaction in
connection with demands yet
unmet.
In this regard, the African Union has been exerting efforts to assist
Egypt - a member State whose contribution to the decolonization
process in our continent and to African Unity has been second to none
- in overcoming its current difficulties in the spirit of African
solidarity. The African Union is also extending all the necessary
support to Tunisia in order to ensure a successful political
transition through the adoption of a new constitution and the holding
of elections. On the other hand, we welcome the successful conduct of
elections in Mali that paved the way for the restoration of
constitutional order in that country. The African Union is indeed
firmly committed to continue assisting Mali in its efforts to ensure
lasting peace, security and development. We draw satisfaction from the
significant progress made in Somalia towards peace in the country and
we are also encouraged by the agreement reached between the Somalia
Federal Government and the Juba Interim Administration, which
constitutes a significant milestone in promoting peace and national
reconciliation. at the Somalia Conference in Brussels certainly
strengthen the momentum for building of the country. The New Deal
announced on 16 September 2013, will the reconstruction and peace
Mr. President,
The security and humanitarian situation in Central African Republic
still remains to be a matter of serious concern. I wish to reiterate
our call to the United Nations to provide multifaceted support to the
African-led International Support Mission in Central African Republic
(AFISM-CAR), which will be deployed in that country to protect
civilians and restore security and public order. On the other hand,
the escalation of tension in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
also poses threats to the peace and security of the Great Lakes region
and the continent as a whole. The only durable solution is for both
the Government and the armed opposition to conclude their peace talks
under the auspices of the International Conference for the Great Lakes
Region (ICGLR). In this regard, I would like to welcome the outcome of
the extraordinary Summit of ICGLR in Kampala on 5 September 2013. With
regard to the relations between Sudan and South Sudan, the African
Union in close collaboration with IGAD has established an Ad- Hoc
Investigation Mechanism (AIM) to verify allegations made by the two
countries of supporting and harboring dissident elements one against
the other. The team is carrying out its work and I am hopeful that the
outcome of this investigation will help the two countries to move
forward in the implementation of the agreements that they have signed
and the normalization of their relations. On a more practical level,
the regular engagement that the leaders of the two countries are
having will go a long way in breaking the impasse and resolving some
of the difficult outstanding issues.
Mr. President,
I would like to raise one important issue, which has been a matter of
serious concern for us in our efforts to promote peace, security and
national reconciliation in the continent and regarding which there is
a strong consensus in Africa. We in Africa, time and again, have
affirmed our unflinching commitment to fighting impunity and promoting
democracy, rule of law and good governance throughout the continent in
conformity with the Constitutive Act of our Union. This has been
empirically validated by bold actions taken by the AU in recent times.
When it comes to the ICC many of our member States ratified the Rome
Statutes faithfully subscribing to its cardinal objectives and
principles. Unfortunately, the manner in which the International
Criminal Court (ICC) has been operating left a very bad impression in
Africa. Instead of promoting justice and reconciliation and
contributing to peace and stability, it has degenerated into a
political instrument targeting Africa and Africans. This is totally
unacceptable and that is why Africa has been expressing its serious
reservation against the ICC. It is regrettable that our repeated
request to the United Nations Security Council to defer the
proceedings initiated against President A1- Bashir has neither been
heard nor acted upon. We have also received no 11 response for our
request for a deferralof the ICC investigations and prosecutions in
relation to the 2008 post election violence in Kenya, in line with the
principle of complementarity, to allow for a NationalMechanism to
investigate and prosecute the cases under a reformed Judiciary
provided for in the new constitutional dispensation. In light of the
encouraging developments in Kenya with theadoption of the new
Constitution, the reform of the Judiciary and theholding of successful
legislative and presidential elections, we believe it is
very critical to support the peace building and national
reconciliation processes in the country. In this regard, the recent
decision of the ICC in relation to the Kenyan situation is unhelpful
adversely affecting the ability of the Kenyan leaders in discharging
their constitutional responsibilities. Therefore, I would like to take
this opportunity to onceagain urge the United Nations Security Council
to respond to our requests.
Mr. President,
In an increasingly globalized and multipolar world, Africa obviously
needs to forge multiple partnerships to realize its development
aspirations and assume its rightful place in the international arena.
In this regard, it gives me great satisfaction to note that Africa's
strategic partnership with both developed and emerging economies has
expandedand deepened in recent years. This is the path we wish to
pursue. Africa needs the solidarity of all sections of the
international community and it is our hope that all the necessary
support would be extended to Africa in
the spirit of the Millennium Declaration, which has underlined so
empathically the special situation of Africa. This, in our view,
should bethe spirit with which the deficit in the implementation of
MDG 8 must be treated during the very short remaining period of the
MDGs.As I conclude, Mr. President, I wish to underline Africa's
enduring commitment to this indispensible global body - a universal
organization whose viability is an existential necessity. It is in
that spirit that Africa will continue to nurture its close cooperation
with the UN.
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