Untitled Document

I wish to thank all of you, Honourable Ministers, first, for deciding to convene this Special Session of Council and also for honouring that commitment by coming here a few days in advance of your regular session in order to finalize the important work you have set for yourselves. I do realize that given your other equally pressing commitments, it may have been very difficult for you to leave your countries to attend this Session. Your presence here, therefore, is an eloquent testimony of the priority that you attach to this noble ideal of establishing the African Union.

I would like also to convey my profound appreciation to the Government of the Republic of South Africa for accepting the extra responsibility of hosting this Special Session of Council and for providing the excellent facilities that will enable us to conduct our deliberations in the most conducive manner. This is yet another demonstration of the extra mile our Member States are prepared to go in ensuring the realization of the ideal of unity that our people have cherished for so long.

This Special Session of Council will be addressing three main issues. First, it will examine the progress made in implementing the tasks related to the transformation of the OAU into the African Union for consideration by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. Second, this Special Session will also finalize the draft Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, the Executive Council, and the Permanent Representatives Committee, as well as the Statutes of the Commission of the African Union. The third issue to be addressed by this Special Session of Council is the review of the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution.

Clearly, this Special Session of Council is faced with serious and challenging work relating to the establishment of the African Union and the shaping of the destiny of the African peoples as a whole. I am confident that the continuing dedication and determination that Council has demonstrated in the pursuit of the ideal of African Unity will once again prevail in these two days. It is my hope that at the end of these deliberations a firm foundation and a dynamic framework for the launching of the African Union will be established.

On my part, since the adoption of the Lusaka Decision relating to the transition from the OAU to the African Union, every endeavour has been made to work closely with Member States, and to mobilize the support of our partners in implementing the tasks of the transition as determined by the Heads of State and Government. I wish to take this opportunity to thank representatives of Member States, including experts and plenipotentiaries; as well as you, Honourable Ministers, for the cooperation we have received in working together during the past nine months to lay down the foundation for an enhanced framework for Continental integration. In this connection, I cannot forget our partners who have encouraged and supported us in this historical undertaking of self-realization for the people of Africa.

While the key tasks that can allow the immediate launching of the African Union are to be finalized at this Session, there are also a number of activities that will continue to be implemented even after the Union is operationally in place. One such activity, for which efforts have to be intensified in its realization, relates to ensuring that the peoples of Africa assume their rightful ownership of this undertaking through their involvement and participation in the strengthening of the Union and in implementing its programmes and activities.

In this respect, following the Second OAU-Civil Society Conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in June this year, efforts will continue in finalizing the preparations that will enable the immediate launching of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council –ECOSOCC –, which is an Organ that is provided for in the Constitutive Act, to enable the different social and professional groups of the Member States to participate in the structures of the African Union. At the same time, we urge Member States to expedite the ratification of the relevant Protocol that can enable the functioning of the Pan-African Parliament, and thus involve the people’s direct representative into the main Organs of the Union.

I wish to underscore at this juncture that the magnitude and complexity of the challenges facing Africa today compel us, not only to strengthen Continental unity and solidarity, but also to establish structures and mechanisms that are effective, robust and dynamic. The pursuit of Africa’s global interests demand that the mechanisms and structures that are established for the African Union are up to the task.

It is equally important that the rules and procedures governing the functioning four new institutions are consistent with the Constitutive Act. These rules should be clear and precise and at the same time flexible, to enable us to adapt them to the constant rapid and complex changes taking place in the world. In this respect, we should establish mechanisms whereby decisions could be adopted rapidly, while taking into account the fact that the Assembly of the Union, the decision making organ, only meets once a year and that a two-thirds majority quorum is required in order to adopt any decision of the Union. The Rules of Procedure and the Statutes that we have examined could be improved further both in terms of form and content. Proof of this are the new proposals, which were made by some of our Member States and submitted, for consideration by this special session.

As Council finalizes its consideration of the Rules of Procedure and the Statutes of the key Organs as well as the Draft Protocol for the proposed Peace and Security Council, the critical question that need to be addressed, is to what extent do they operationalise the letter and spirit of the Constitutive Act and the directives of our Leaders in realizing the cherished dream of our people in forging closer unity? In working on the proposed Rules of Procedure and the Statutes, efforts have been made to ensure that the institutions of the African Union acquire an added strength and dynamism for coping with the challenges of the new century.

We all know that this is only the beginning of a long and arduous journey. We are bound to face many difficulties and encounter a number of obstacles. Nevertheless, we have committed ourselves to reach our destination, and therefore we are determined to overcome all challenges. In fact, there is no choice for the people of Africa, except to persist on the path of unity, solidarity and cooperation that has been embarked upon.

The adoption of the Sirte Declaration in September 1999, unleashed a new momentum in the quest for Continental integration and unity. The rapidity of signing and ratifying the Constitutive Act, the enthusiasm and dedication exhibited in the various fora organized in the past year to address the tasks related to the transition, and even the complaints from the people about inadequate involvement as conveyed through the media and other channels, are all evidence of an Africa that is keen and eager to launch into a new orbit.

The work of this Special Session of Council will ensure that the expectations of African people and the desire to create a more effective body that can enable our Continent cope with the challenges of the new Century are not lost. The Session will have to ensure that the vision of our Founding Fathers has been appropriately translated in the modality of launching the African Union. As it has been repeatedly emphasized, the change that is taking place is not simply an amendment of name and institutional nomenclature. This is a fundamental redirection and revitalization of the framework of African unity that encompasses a broad range of elements.

Since the Lusaka Summit last year, Member States and the General Secretariat have put in a lot of work in preparing for the launch of the African Union, particularly its key Organs. The fact that Council decided to reconvene in this Special Session is a reaffirmation of the seriousness that it attaches to this undertaking and especially the laying of a firm foundation for the African Union. We all realize that the manner in which the Union is configured will determine how Africa can harness the opportunities of globalisation, surmount its challenges and enable our people to realize sustainable peace and development. We have to do it right; we cannot afford to fail them.