Directorate of Information & Communication AU2020 Annual Magazine ECHO SILENCING THE GUNS IN AFRICA AU PEACE FUND Interviews with Women in Peacekeeping • LT. Colonel Tenneh Puteteh Sesay • CSP. Esther Mary Kaintor • CSP. Glory Urhere AU AT EXPO 2020 DUBAI AfCFTA FIGHTING ILLICIT OPERATIONAL FINANCIAL FLOWS INSTRUMENTS LAUNCHED SPECIAL PULLOUT! • OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism • Protocol to the OAU Convention on the Prevention & Combatting of Terrorism www.au.int IF WE WANT TO REAP THE HARVEST OF PEACE AND JUSTICE IN THE FUTURE, WE Silencing WILL HAVE TO SOW SEEDS OF the Guns: NON VIOLENCE, HERE AND Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa's NOW, IN THE PRESENT Development #SilencingTheGuns Mairead Corrigan www.au.intwww.au.int AU ECHO 2019 3 NOTE FROM THE EDITOR elson Mandela once said that “One effect of sustained conflict is to narrow our vision of N what is possible.” When we focus on the chaos and disruption of conflicts and wars, when we place out trust in the gun to effect change rather than on the strength of our collective wisdom and desire to improve our lives and when we normalise destruction over construction, then we inevitably fail to see what potential lies in our people, our land and the resources it holds The year 2020 is one where we as Africans will be called upon in all walks of life to band together to widen our vision and to see the full spectrum of what is possible economically, socially and politically if we create the environment for peace to endure. Our theme for 2020 of Silencing The Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development is in keeping with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and our Aspiration for a Peaceful and Secure Africa. Anchored on the African Union’s African Peace and Security Architecture, 2020 will be the year where all tools to promote peace will be pulled out of the box; from preventive diplomacy and dialogue- centred approaches to conflict prevention and resolution, as well as support to member states and citizens through the work of the various AU peacekeeping forces to manage crises and work towards reconstruction of societies so as to create the firm foundation for enduring economic growth and development. In our efforts to promote peace and stability in line with the theme of the year, the role of women must not be negated, but in fact a more inclusive approach to peace keeping must LESLIE RICHER be embraced. In this edition we highlight the need to close the gender gap in matters of peace and security and profile DIRECTOR the role of women in the peace keeping efforts of the African Directorate of Information & Communication Union and celebrate their achievements. Finally, peace and stability are necessary for achieving the desired objectives of one of Africa’s most ambitious economic integration initiatives, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCFTA entered into force in May 2019 and in July 2019 the Operational Instruments were launched. Africa is all set to transform the landscape when trading under the AfCFTA commences in July 2020. In this edition of the AU Echo we cover the operational instruments as well as the requirements and expectations for the start of trading. To achieve our ambitions for sustainable growth and development let us make 2020 the year when we lay the strong foundations for lasting peace The AU ECHO is produced by the Directorate of Information and Communication of the African Union. The views expressed by contributing external authors who are not officials of the African Union do not reflect the official position of the African Union. Articles from this publication, except those emanating from the AU, may not be freely printed. Articles from the AU must correctly state source as the African Union when used on any publication (print or digital) or extracted as source material for any digital, print, audio, video or any other broadcast medium. Copyrighted photographs may not be reprinted without written permission from the Directorate of Information and Communication of the African Union. Editor in Chief: Leslie Richer Editor: Wynne Musabayana Research & Media: Esther Yambou, Gamal Eldin Karrar, Afrah Thabit Mohamed, Molalet Tsedeke, Doreen Apollos, Faith Ochieng, Gifty Bingley, Pascal Chem-Langhee Administration: Sehenemaraam Hailu, Rahel Akalewold Layout & Design: Peter Kyambadde Photography: Yohannes INSIDE Zirotti, Yohannes Negash, Engida Wassi P.24 Looking Forward to the African Continental Free Trade Area: Customs Administration still the key Factor for Facilitation of Intra African Trade P.26 Silencing the Guns; Promoting peace, security and stability on the continent is one of the key activities of the African Union P.06 (AU) Africa CDC makes Significant Progress in Africa’s Public Health Management P.12 Africa's fight against illicit financial flows; Africa loses US$50 billion annually to illicit outflows driven largely by commercial activities P.28 INTERVIEW (65%), Criminal Activities (30%) and Corruption and Abuse of Office (5%) H.E Smail Chergui, Commissioner for Peace and Security, African Union Commission on the Theme of the year P.18 OPINIONS African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Towards start of Trading. P.32 H.E. Amb. Albert Mudenda Muchanga, Commissioner Women in Peace and for Trade & Industry at the African Union Commission A call to Serve Africa: outlines what needs to be done to have a high impact Security start of trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area on 1st July, 2020. AU ECHO 2019 5 P.38 P.58 Closing the Gender Gap: Promotiong Agenda 2063 with African Deepening Women's and Girl's Participation Media: AU awards grants to women in Peace & Security journalists to produce Agenda 2063 content P.64 Africa driving its development Agenda through Strategic Partnerships The African Union is playing a leading role in improving Africa’s partnerships and refocusing them more strategically to respond to African priorities for growth and transformation as accentuated in the continent’s development blueprint, Agenda 2063. P.44 No Sacrifice is too small for Peace: P.70 Chief Superintendent of Police, Esther Mary Kainto African Union at Dubai Expo 2020: 20th October 2020 - 10th April P.48 2021 AU Peace Fund: Financing Peace & security in P.84 Africa is not only an African priority but a global strategic Imperative One Million by 2021: The Trace TV Academy Initiative P.52 P.90 Police Work Isn't Just another Job: African Union Champion Heads of State Glory Urhere, Chief Superintendant of Police Pushing the Continental Agenda at the Highest Levels P.102 Outcomes of the 4th Specialised Technical Committee on Gender Equality & Women's Empowerment P.116 Defining Africa's Future Through Digital Transformation 6 AU ECHO 2019 HEALTH n 31 January 2020, it will be – human, material, financial and O three years since the official Africa CDC technical – with support being inauguration of the Africa provided in large part to the DRC Centres for Disease Control and some at-risk countries such and Prevention (Africa CDC); makes as South Sudan, Tanzania and the African Union’s lead continental public Uganda. health agency that provides support to African states in managing disease Significant The 63 African Union supported outbreaks and other public health threats experts in the DRC are working as well as supporting them to efficiently Progress with other partners in the prevent disease transmission, implement communities, at border posts surveillance and detection, and always be and health care centres to prepared to respond effectively to health in Africa’s support contact tracing, risk threats and outbreaks. communication, infection prevention and control, Africa CDC has increased from 53 staff Public Health surveillance, laboratory testing, members in December 2018 to 75 in training of health care workers December 2019. Key positions filled in Management and community relays, logistics, 2019 included the deputy director, human treatment and care, advocacy and resources officer, coordinator of the sensitization, and mobilization for mortality surveillance programme, and vaccination. a senior programme officer. In October 2019, Africa CDC In spite of the fact that Africa CDC relies partnered with the World Health heavily on seconded staff and temporary Organization to hold a meeting personnel of the African Union, the of health ministers and key agency stepped up recruitment of its stakeholders from the DRC and own personnel in 2019 which was key its nine neighbouring countries. to providing more support to countries, The meeting resulted in a joint including response to three disease framework for preparedness outbreaks in 2019: cholera in Sudan, and response to EVD and other Rift Valley Fever in Kenya and Ebola disease outbreaks by the 10 Virus Diseases (EVD) in the Democratic countries. This jointly organised Republic of Congo (DRC). meeting was the first of its kind jointly organized by Africa CDC EVD preparedness and response required and WHO and provided a learning a large amount of programme resources AU ECHO 2019 7 Through these programmes and initiatives, Africa CDC is helping to strengthen technical capacity and public health systems across the continent. For example, through RISLNET, Africa CDC is supporting seven laboratories in seven Member States in Central Africa to become the first cohort of reference laboratories enrolled for ISO 15189 accreditation. Following an assessment exercise, senior personnel of these laboratories have been trained on strengthening laboratory management towards accreditation (SLMTA) 01, quality assurance and external quality assessment, basic laboratory information systems, quality management of point-of-care testing, and equipment maintenance and calibration. RISLNET has supported the development of three framework documents and five guidance documents for the improvement of laboratory services in Central Africa. Through the mortality surveillance programme, Africa CDC has held one continental and three regional workshops to support the development of national action plans on mortality surveillance.