31 January 2016: African Heads of State, leaders and other stakeholders discussed the implementation of Africa’s Agenda 2063 and ways to advance human rights, particularly women’s rights, during the 26th session of the African Union (AU) Assembly, which convened under the theme, ‘2016: African Year of Human Rights, with particular focus on the Rights of Women.’
The 26th AU Assembly took place from 30-31 January 2016, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In advance of the Assembly, the AU’s Executive Council held a retreat on ‘Implementation of Agenda 2063,’ which was followed by an AU Executive Council meeting on 27-28 January, in Mekelle, Ethiopia.
Addressing the Assembly, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged leaders to move from setting standards to “the three I’s – Implementation, Institution-building and Investment.” Ban elaborated, “peace and security, development, and human rights are won only when we commit to protecting the rights of others, regardless of their color, religion, ethnicity, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, or other distinctions.” Ban recognized the alignment between Africa’s ambitions and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He stressed the importance of implementation, including on financing, technology transfer and knowledge sharing, and he highlighted the Agenda’s promise to leave no one behind, saying this will require preventing and ending conflicts.
Ban also addressed the AU Peace and Security Council, saying “Bullets may stop terrorists, but only development, good governance and respect for human rights can prevent terrorism.” He called for urgent action on counter-terrorism and crises in Burundi and South Sudan, and highlighted recommendations from the UN Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.
UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Executive Secretary Carlos Lopes also reflected on conflict. He cautioned, “environmental stress can be a serious catalyst for violence…while resource riches give strong motivation to particular groups to gain control over such resources.” Lopes highlighted the connection between inequality and the region’s conflicts, calling on leaders to address economic, social and political inequality.
On biodiversity and wildlife, the AU’s Executive Council retreat discussed the illegal trade in wildlife and timber. Ibrahim Thiaw, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), said the value of illegal trade in wildlife and timber is nearly the same as the amount Africa receives from Official Development Assistance (ODA). He stressed, “stealing [these resources] deprives the countries of the ability to choose and determine their own future and economic development for their own people as part of a global world.” Thiaw called for urgent action to achieve sustainable ecosystem management in Africa, urging African Ministers to play an active role in addressing illegal trade in wildlife, such as by integrating wildlife conservation into African diplomacy.
On climate change, AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, Rhoda Tumusiime, briefed the Assembly on the Paris Climate Change Conference, describing it as a success and highlighting Africa as the only continent with a common position and voice. She said negotiations in 2016 will address country-specific emissions goals, and called for “getting Africa to be recognized as a special case.”
On governance, Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya and Chairperson of the Heads of States African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Forum, underscored the APRM’s role in promoting transparency in African governance systems and ensuring that member states adhere to agreed values of democracy, socio-economic development, and political, economic and corporate governance.
The Assembly elected Idriss Deby Itno, President of Chad, as the AU Chairperson for 2016, replacing Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe. Deby said he will work to ensure the implementation of the 2016 theme on human rights and implementing Agenda 2063.
The AUC launched the AU Leadership Academy, which aims to provide capacity building, knowledge and training to promote implementation of Agenda 2063 and to facilitate service delivery and results-oriented program implementation. It will also facilitate professional skills development on policy design and effectiveness and efficiency.
The Summit also addressed, inter alia: health; migration; youth; trade; and structural transformation; and reforms to the AU’s structure, among other topics. Two African scientists, Umezurike Opara and Tebello Nyokong, received the Kwame Nkrumah Continental Scientific Awards during a ceremony at the Summit. [AU Press Release on Assembly Conclusion] [UN Press Release] [UN Secretary-General Statement] [UNECA Press Release on Lopes] [UNECA Press Release on Ban] [AU Press Release on Paris Climate Change Briefing] [AU Press Release on APRM] [AU Press Release on AU Leadership Academy] [AU Press Release on AU Chairperson] [AU Press Release on Scientific Awards] [UNEP Press Release] [Government of Liberia Press Release] [UNIDO Press Release]