In 1991, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda in his capacity as Chairman of the OAU, and President Olusegun Obasanjo, then Chairman of the African Leadership Foundation, issued invitations to African Heads of States to attend a meeting on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Kampala in May 1991. This meeting agreed on a unified strategy for development linking the issues of security, stability, development and cooperation in a comprehensive and integrated fashion recognising that one flows into the other and that it is impossible to tackle any without concern for another.

The result of the meeting was the Kampala Document, which encapsulated both the 1990 OAU Heads of State Declaration on the Political and Socio-Economic Situation in Africa and the Fundamental Changes Taking Place in the World and the 1990 African Charter for Popular Participation in Development. Essentially, the Kampala Document comprised four interrelated Calabashes:

• The security calabash to focus on principles and modalities for assuring interstate relations;

• The stability calabash on the need for democratisation, good governance and popular participation within member States;

• The development calabash on strategies to raise and improve general standards of living; and

• The cooperation calabash on the modalities for accelerating regional integration processes and harmonising development of vital sectors of the Continent.

The Kampala Document also proposed a Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa (CSSDCA). The Document was presented to the OAU Summit in Abuja, Nigeria in June 1991 for adoption; however, it was only noted and referred to the Council of Ministers. Subsequent OAU Summits in June 1992 in Dakar, Senegal and in June 1993 in Cairo, Egypt could not adopt the Kampala Document in the absence of inputs from member States.

During the OAU Summit in July 1999 in Algiers, Algeria, President Obasanjo called for the refocusing on the Kampala Document in the light of contemporary developments in Africa, and offered to take responsibility for setting in motion the process of re-launching the CSSDCA. President Obasanjo also proposed that the year 2000 be declared as the Year of Peace, Security and Solidarity in Africa.

At the Extraordinary OAU Summit held in Sirte, Libya in September 1999, the Heads of State decided to convene an African Ministerial Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in the Continent as soon as possible. As such the CSSDCA initiative was fully endorsed by the policy-making organs of the OAU. This First Ministerial CSSDCA Meeting was held in Abuja from 8 to 9 May 2000

The 36^th OAU Summit in Lomé in 2000 adopted the Solemn Declaration on the CSSDCA and, in its Declaration, acknowledged the CSSDCA process as creating a synergy between the various activities undertaken by the OAU/AEC, which therefore must help to consolidate the work of the OAU/AEC in the areas of peace, security, stability, development and cooperation. The Lomé Summit further stated that the CSSDCA must provide a policy development forum for the elaboration and advancement of common values within the main policy organs of the OAU/AEC.

In order to implement the CSSDCA within the framework of the OAU/AEC and to ensure the sustainability of the process, it was agreed that a Standing CSSDCA Conference would be established, to convene every two years during the Summit. The Meetings of Plenipotentiaries and Senior Officials will undertake review meetings in between Sessions of the Standing Conference. The Secretary General was requested to initiate internal administrative arrangements for designating, within the OAU/AEC Secretariat, a unit to coordinate CSSDCA activities.

According to the letter and spirit of the Lomé Declaration, the first Standing Conference of Heads of State and Government on the CSSDCA will take place during the Summit to be hosted in South Africa from 8 to 10 July 2002. In preparation for the Standing Conference, detailed discussions have been undertaken on the various calabashes in order to implement the CSSDCA process. Two meetings of experts were held, the first in Midrand, South Africa from 9 to 13 December 2001 to discuss the Development and Cooperation Calabashes, and the second in Addis Ababa from 14 to 17 May 2002 to discuss the Security and Stability Calabashes.

The experts meetings were aimed at the drafting of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on respectively Development and Cooperation and on Security and Stability in Africa, within the following framework:

• Further distilling the general and specific principles identified in the Solemn Declaration on the CSSDCA into core values;

• To agree on commitments to give effect to these core values;

• To agree on key performance indicators to evaluate compliance with the commitments in the Memorandum of Understanding;

• To design a framework of implementation as a means of carrying out the commitments contained in the Memorandum of Understanding; and

• To agree on mechanisms for measuring performance.

The two MoUs (see attached) will be submitted to the 76^th OAU Council of Ministers meeting to be hosted in Durban from 4 to 6 July 2002. The intention is for the Ministers to consider the MoUs, with the view to incorporating it into a draft protocol, to be adopted by the Heads of State and Government during the Summit. As such it is envisaged that the CSSDCA process must develop into a more binding agreement to be subsequently annexed as an integral part of the Constitutive Act of the African Union.

It should be noted that the 2^nd OAU-Civil Society Conference on Developing Partnership between the OAU and Civil Society Organisations, held in Addis Ababa from 11 to 14 June 2002, considered the MoUs in depth. Various inputs and recommendations were made to both Memoranda, particularly to the preamble and commitments. These recommendations by civil society will be reflected in a report to the Heads of State and Government during the Summit meetings in Durban.

South Africa’s involvement in the CSSDCA process

South Africa’s commitment and participation in the CSSDCA process to date has included the following:

• Participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other Ministers in meetings of the Steering Committee of the CSSDCA process, from September 1999 to March 2000;

• Hosting of a meeting of the Steering Committee in South Africa from 28 to 29 February 2000, during which President Mbeki delivered the keynote address;

• Participation of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence and senior officials in the 1^st Ministerial CSSDCA meeting in Abuja from 8 to 9 May 2000;

• Making available the amount of US$500,000 to the OAU Secretariat towards the operationalisation of the CSSDCA process;

• Short-term (three-month) secondment of a Foreign Affairs official to Addis Ababa to assist the OAU Secretariat to develop the working papers for the Development and Cooperation calabashes;

• Hosting the experts meeting of the Development and Cooperation calabashes in South Africa from 9 to 13 December 2001; and

• Participation of officials in the experts meeting of the Security and Stability calabashes in Addis Ababa from 14 to 17 May 2002.

Furthermore, it is important to note that South Africa appears to be the only member state to have responded to the Solemn Declaration’s call to incorporate CSSDCA principles and guidelines into the national institutions that would have the responsibility for monitoring the implementation of CSSDCA activities by, inter alia, the restructuring of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the IRPS Cluster Committee along the lines of the calabashes.

Subsequent to the adoption of the Solemn Declaration on the CSSDCA, the NEPAD initiative has come into being as Africa’s principal agenda for development, providing a holistic, comprehensive integrated strategic framework for the socio-economic development of the continent, within the institutional framework of the African Union. On 11 July 2001, NEPAD, or the New African Initiative (NAI) as it was temporarily known at the time, was presented to the OAU Summit of Heads of State and Government in Lusaka, Zambia, where it was enthusiastically received and unanimously adopted by the Summit.

NEPAD is structured into three components, which also focus on the interrelation between peace, security, stability, development and cooperation in Africa, as follows:

• The first component provides the preconditions for sustainable development, which are the Peace, Security, Democracy and Political Governance Initiatives; the Economic and Corporate Governance Initiative; and the sub-regional and regional approaches to development.

• The second component provides the sectoral priorities, which include bridging the infrastructure gap; the Human Resource Development Initiative; the Agriculture Initiative; the Environment Initiative; the Cultural Initiative and Science and Technology Platforms.

• The third component concerns the mobilisation of resources, referring to the Capital Flows Initiative and the Market Access Initiative.

Whilst the strategic focus of the CSSDCA process is to ensure good governance in the political and economic realm as well as to provide the framework for development and cooperation in Africa, NEPAD serves as the socio-economic development blueprint for the African Union to implement its objectives. In addition, it provides the mechanism for accelerating implementation of the Abuja Treaty, and, at the same time, its management structures are particularly designed to ensure follow-up and implementation in the transition phase from the OAU to the African Union.

Initially it had been suggested that the CSSDCA was a framework for the adoption of common values for the African Union as well as benchmarks against which successes could be measured, whilst NEPAD was an action programme for achieving the objectives of the African Union and the continent. As envisaged, one of the main characteristics of the CSSDCA initiative was its provision of a mechanism for monitoring and facilitating the implementation of OAU/African Union decisions. Although there is convergence and complimentarity between the objectives of the CSSDCA and NEPAD in the context of the African Union, there are particular areas of overlap and possible duplication that need to be addressed.

Council will recall that the 36^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held in Lome, Togo, adopted the CSSDCA Solemn Declaration on 11 July 2000. The main features of the Solemn Declaration include: a Declaration of Principles, a Plan of Action and an Implementation Mechanism. The Implementation Mechanism provides for the establishment of a Standing Conference, which should meet every two years during the Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. The leaders also agreed to convene review meetings of the Plenipotentiaries and Senior Officials to monitor the implementation of the CSSDCA decisions in-between sessions of the Standing Conference. Additionally, the Secretary-General was requested to initiate arrangements for designating, within the Secretariat, a Unit to coordinate CSSDCA activities and to take necessary measures to ensure the detailed discussions of the various Calabashes in order to implement the CSSDCA Process. In this regard, the Secretary-General was requested to coordinate the consultations with a view to ensuring the convening of the meetings on the Calabashes.

Following the Lome Summit, a number of initiatives were taken by the General Secretariat in order to actualize the Implementation Mechanism, including consultations with Member States on how to operationalize the CSSDCA in the work programme of the OAU, the implementation of the decision to establish, within the Secretariat, a Unit to coordinate CSSDCA activities, and preparations for the convening and hosting of detailed discussions at the Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation Calabashes for submission to a Ministerial Review Conference, prior to the convening of the First CSSDCA Standing Conference, as envisaged in the Implementation Plan. At the Seventy-Third Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers meeting in Sirte, Libya, on 22-26 February 2001, Council was briefed on the progress made and steps taken by the General Secretariat in this regard, as well as the difficulties encountered, with particular emphasis on the issue of resource constraints.

Since the meeting of the Council of Ministers in Addis Ababa in March 2002, further progress has been made in regard of the establishment of the CSSDCA Unit and the convening of the second Experts meeting for detailed discussions of the Security and Stability Calabashes of the CSSDCA. Similarly, the programme of cooperation with international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has advanced further and there has been progress in the drive to secure the provision of adequate financial provisions for the implementation of the CSSDCA Process.

Since the meeting of the Seventy-Fifth Ordinary Session of the Council in March 2002, various steps have been taken to implement this Decision of the Council. The Unit has been incorporated into the formal structure of the Secretariat and as part of this process, two Senior Political Officers on P-4 Grade have been recruited for Security and Stability and Civil Society Affairs respectively, as regular staff officers of the CSSDCA Unit within the OAU/AU Secretariat. Arrangements are underway for the recruitment of another officer on the same grade for the Development and Cooperation Calabashes. Moreover, the appointment of the Senior Coordinator and the support staff were regularized in June 2002 in order to make the Unit fully operational.

Council will recall that the First Experts Meeting on the Development and Cooperation Calabashes was held in Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa, from 9-13 December 2001. As the Secretary-General noted in his report to the meeting of the Council in March 2002, the First Experts meeting helped to clarify the objectives of the CSSDCA process, within the context of the emerging African Union, and addressed the issue of complementarity with the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD). It adopted a Memorandum of Understanding on the Development and Cooperation Calabashes for submission to the Ministerial Review Conference as part of the preparations for the First Standing Conference of the CSSDCA, scheduled to be held on the margins of the first Summit of the African Union in Durban, South Africa, in July 2002. The Memorandum of Understanding offers a pragmatic framework for translating the general and specific principles contained in the CSSDCA Solemn Declaration into core values and key commitments that would serve as a framework for action. This framework, which is based on decisions and resolutions already adopted by the OAU, provide a means of asserting key targets or performance indicators that would enable the Union to assess progress over any period of time in the implementation of Decisions and commitments taken by Member States.

The Experts meeting on the Security and Stability Calabashes was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 14 to 17 May 2002. The outcome of that meeting was the adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding on the Security and Stability Calabashes of the CSSDCA. With the conclusion of the two Experts meeting on Development and Cooperation and Security and Stability Calabashes respectively, the General Secretariat brought to a successful conclusion the efforts to fulfill the mandate given by the Heads of State and Government at their 36^th Ordinary Session in Lome for a detailed discussion of the various Calabashes of the CSSDCA. The two Memorandum of Understanding have thus been consolidated into a general Memorandum of Understanding on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation to be considered by the Ministerial Review meeting for submission to the First Standing Conference of the CSSDCA in Durban, South Africa in July 2002 (Annex1).

The Memorandum of Understanding on the Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation Calabashes provides an all-inclusive framework for a peer review structure within the African Union. It is important to stress that this framework is based on resolutions, declarations and decisions taken by the continental organization since its establishment in 1963. The process of developing this monitoring and evaluation framework for the African Union has nonetheless been dynamic and exhaustive. The complex and holistic exercise has been underpinned at all levels by a framework of consensus that has often resulted in the expansion of its frontiers.

The outcome is a process and structure that the continent can be justifiably proud of as being faithful to the desires and wishes of the African Heads of States who mandated its development and the hopes and aspirations of the African people whose expectations and welfare, it was designed to cater for. The Memorandum of Understanding clearly enunciates the core values that guide all undertakings in the continent in the sphere of security, stability, development and cooperation in an holistic context that relates the various areas to each other as integrated elements in the bid for African development and democratic renewal. both of which are conceived as logical preconditions for each other. Subsequently, it enumerates the commitments, obligations and actions that Africans have subscribed to as a framework for realizing these values and goals. It also highlights common sets of benchmarks for evaluating compliance to ensure proper monitoring. The benchmarking criteria and indices provide the basis for assessing performance and the establishment of a framework for promoting common progress through improvements in general and/or overall standards of performance.

It should be recalled that the detailed discussion of each Calabash was preceded by the presentation and analysis of a policy discussion paper in which the framework of common and existing consensus of values, commitments, obligation, action and benchmarks were comprehensively discussed. In the process, Member States were offered the opportunity to explore the legitimacy and validity of their previous commitments in the light of contemporary developments and realities. Significantly, the result was that Member States reaffirmed their continued commitment to previous obligations and in some rare cases, even sought to expand them in the light of international decisions taken after the original decisions and resolutions at national, continental and international levels.

More significant still, is the fact that the obligations and frameworks of behaviour set for values, commitments, and actions to be taken, and key performance indicators meet the highest comparable regional and international standards. It is also remarkable that the Member States in consensus did not just stop at agreeing on standards but went on to affirm their readiness to stand by them in very clear and unequivocal terms by stating that " we commit ourselves to respect and implement all this undertakings in the conformity with Articles 9(e) and 23 (2) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union".

This is clear demonstration that in the spirit of the new African Union, African states and peoples are determined to move together in the search for democracy, development and good governance as a continent. Capacity differences do exist but this has simply strengthened the determination to forge a common agenda and common purpose to bridge them. To this end, Member States agreed on the precise requirement of common diagnostic tools and measurement criteria for assessing performance and cross-referencing inputs for assessments from all stakeholders in African states and society. The primary source of reference will be national review mechanisms but inputs are also required from civil society, parliamentarians and the private sector. Thus the peer review process is designed as a comprehensive mechanism involving vertical and horizontal approaches.

This outcome commends the foresight and wisdom of the African Heads of State that met in Lome in July 2000, their adoption of the CSSDCA Solemn Declaration and the decision to establish the CSSDCA Process. So far, in the short period of its implementation, the CSSDCA Process has added an urgent and vital dynamism and vigour to the activities of the OAU/AU Secretariat. It has provided a forum for the progressive development and advancement of common values and a structure that consolidates the constructive implementation of the agendas of the Political and Community Affairs Department by relating activities in the sphere of security, stability, development and cooperation more closely to each other and interfacing their initiatives.

The CSSDCA Process has also developed a framework of activity that would serve the monitoring and evaluation goals of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government as prescribed in article 9(e) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union. It was in recognition of the contribution and the important role that the CSSDCA Process could play in advancing the goals of the African Union and facilitating their implementation that the Experts from various Member States that met in Addis Ababa from 14-17 May 2000 proposed in the Memorandum of the Understanding that the CSSDCA Unit as the Coordinating Mechanism, should be strengthened, enlarged and endowed with adequate resources and funds as well as other enabling capacities to take initiatives within the structure of the envisaged Commission of the African Union, so as to perform its tasks efficiently and effectively, particularly in respect of the implementation of decisions adopted by Member States.

As a follow-up to the joint OAU/CSSDCA-OSCE Workshop of 7-8 February 2002, the OSCE in close coordination with the Austrian Embassy in Addis Ababa, arranged for a small fact finding mission by representatives of the OAU/CSSDCA to Vienna to carry on with the information exchange initiated by the OAU/CSSDCA-OSCE Workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The mission, who took place from 17-23 June 2002, sustained the momentum generated by the Workshop of February 2002 by enhancing the prospects for consolidation of a follow up-agenda into a formal partnership between the OAU/AU and the OSCE. It also provided valuable information about the conduct and operations of the OSCE and how it can be used to enhance the operations of the CSSDCA Process in the areas of conflict prevention, management and resolution, the respect and promotion of human rights and election observation. In addition, an Officer from the Political Cooperation Division, which focuses on human rights and democracy issues, visited the Warsaw office of the OSCE on invitation in late May 2002. Moreover, the CSSDCA Unit is currently engaged in consultations with the Government of Netherlands, which is to assume the Chairmanship of the OSCE in October, to arrange joint workshops on election observation, confidence-building measures and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the second half of 2002 and early 2003 respectively.

Significantly also, the Framework of Cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity of the Fifty-Sixth Session of the UN General Assembly in December 2001 took " note of the declarations and decisions adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its Thirty-Sixth Ordinary session, held at Lome, Togo, from 10-12 July 2000, in particular AHG/Decl.4 (XXXVI) on the Solemn Declaration on the Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation n Africa" and requested " the United Nations to extend full Cooperation and support to the Organization of African Unity in the Implementation of the Solemn Declaration on the Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa". Following this, the Bilateral meeting between the UN and the Organization of African Unity, co-chaired by the Deputy Directors of Africa 1 and 11 of the UN and the Head of the Permanent Mission to the UN, placed emphasis on the need for strong support for the CSSDCA.

In furtherance of Decision CM/Dec.605, Council was informed at its last meeting in March that the OAU General Secretariat convened a second OAU-Civil Society Conference on Developing Partnership between the OAU and the African Civil Society Organizations to be held in Addis Ababa, from 11-14 June 2002. The purpose of the Conference was to serve as a follow-up to the first Conference held in June 2001. Its main objective was to establish a mechanism that would facilitate an interface between the African Civil Society and the African Union, as well as to provide inputs and explore modalities for effective engagement of Civil Society Organizations within the framework of the CSSDCA. The Conference also sought ways of enlisting the support of and inputs from African Civil Society for the establishment of African Union, with particular reference to the New Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The General Secretariat is also seriously engaged in efforts to secure adequate resources to support the work of the CSSDCA Unit. To this end, it has been involved in consultations with the Governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Government of South Africa to redeem pledges made at the inception of the CSSDCA Process and secure more financial support for the CSSDCA Process.

Both the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of South Africa have responded positively to the request. In a joint note delivered to the Secretariat on 23 October 2002, the two Governments confirmed the availability of the funds for immediate transfer to the OAU Secretariat and their readiness to release the money as soon as the conditions for its disbursement are agreed upon. The Governments of Nigeria and South Africa emphasized that they " have made this contribution as a demonstration of their commitment to the CSSDCA initiative which they believe will contribute immensely to the achievements of the objective of the African Union particularly in the areas of peace, stability, development and cooperation".

Finally, the integration of the CSSDCA Process into the work programme of the OAU/AU adds a new dimension to the development of the Organization and it is fortuitous that this is taking place at precisely the same time in which the OAU is transiting into the African Union. In offering a framework for the adoption of common values and monitorable targets that would enable higher standards of performance and efficiency, the CSSDCA offers the OAU a unique instrument for transformation into the African Union. It utility and added value lies in its potential to serve as a major vehicle through which the OAU /AU can collectively translate into concrete, achievable and measurable results, the vision and Agenda of the Organization in the area of peace, security, development and integration. The consolidation of the CSSDCA Process would also have a wider impact on decision-making processes and implementation of decisions within the OAU/AU and Africa’s relationship with the wider international community.

The monitoring Mechanism of the CSSDCA offers the African Union a comprehensive peer review process that is premised on the combination of a bottoms-up and top-down approach. The Framework of Implementation and monitoring performance contained in the Memorandum of Understanding will involve Governments through inter-Ministerial Committees, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Civil Society Organizations and independent research agencies. Thus it involves a process of interaction at various levels that would allow for and encourage cross verification and cross-substantiation, as well as mediation at the same levels to promote changes.

The diagnostic tools include a series of key performance indicators that are already agreed upon but there is also a provision for expanding spatial and political boundaries where the framework of consensus supports such innovations or where other international instruments within and outside the OAU/AU framework at the regional, continental and international levels permits and demands such adaptability.

The challenge confronting the CSSDCA process now is to develop an appropriate infrastructure to ensure proper monitoring using the agreed benchmark criteria and indices, with targets and measurement criteria for determining compliance. Agreed benchmark criteria and indices requires a framework of political legitimacy which is conferred on the CSSDCA Process by the Solemn Declaration and the Memorandum of Understanding agreed upon by states. The models of best practices established by the Memorandum of Understanding provide frameworks for measurements that are built on consensus and devoid of national or parochial sentiments or preferences. The Memorandum endorses mechanisms with provisions for powers of review action. More significantly, the peer review process offered by the CSSDCA entails of framework of internal self-adjustment and self-correction that is not time-bound or limited in membership and scope or directed by external demands. This gives it an African derived legitimacy that should be valuable in terms of Africa’s relationship with the outside world.

Finally, the CSSDCA Process offers a concrete tool for facing challenges of the future. Thus it seems appropriate, even now, to begin to examine challenges that would follow the First Standing Conference. If the Standing Conference uphold the validity and substance of the undertakings thus far, the task of the CSSDCA Process after the First Standing Conference would be to consolidate arrangements for the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding, This would involve elaborating the comprehensive work programme for its activities, with critical emphasis on the standardization and refinement of diagnostic tools and measurement criteria for its operations. As part of this process, the CSSDCA Process has an advocacy role to sensitize the international community, civil society and Regional Economic Communities, the UN and other international organizations to the decisions and obligations undertaken by African States in the spheres of security, stability and development and to solicit technical, moral and financial support for them.

CSSDCA - DRAFT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON SECURITY, STABILITY, DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION IN AFRICA

We the Member States of the OAU/AU;

1. Recalling the objectives and principles of the Constitutive Act of the African Union;

2. Conscious of the importance of the Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation (CSSDCA) and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and the convergence and complementarity of their objectives in the realization of the goals of the Constitutive Act of the African Union;

3. Emphasizing the interdependence of security and stability on the one hand and development and cooperation on the other;

4. Recalling the CSSDCA Solemn Declaration adopted by the 36^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government in Lome, Togo, in July 2000;

5. Affirming that in the exercise of our sovereign right to determine our laws and regulations, we shall conform to our legal obligations under the OAU Charter, the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (AEC) and the Constitutive Act of the African Union, having due regard to implementing the CSSDCA Solemn Declaration;

6. Reaffirming our commitment to the maintenance of security and stability on the continent;

 

7. Recognizing that this commitment, which reflects the interests and aspirations of African peoples, constitutes for each participating State a present and future responsibility, heightened by experience of the past;

8. Desirous to give effect and expression, by all appropriate ways and means to the duty of ensuring security and stability arising from the generally recognized principles and rules of international law and those obligations arising from treaties or other agreements, in accordance with internationally accepted norms, to which we are parties;

 

9. Resolved to subscribe to a set of core values and key commitments to buttress the process of security and stability in Africa and reflecting the common will to act, in the application of the principles set out in the CSSDCA Solemn Declaration;

To respect and abide by the following core values, all of primary importance, in guiding our relations: -

1. Every African State is sovereign. Every State respects the rights inherent in the territorial integrity and political independence of all other African States, without prejudice to the provisions of Article 4 of the AU Constitutive Act, sections (d) and (h) and other relevant international instruments;

 

2. The centrality of security as a multi-dimensional phenomenon that goes beyond military considerations and embraces all aspects of human existence, including economic, political and social dimensions of individual, family, community and national life;

 

3. Peace and security are central to the realization of development of both the state and individuals. Thus the security of the African people, their land and property must be safeguarded to ensure stability, development and cooperation of African countries;

 

4. The security of each African country is inseparably linked to that of other African countries and the African continent as a whole;

 

5. The plight of African Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons constitutes a scar on the conscience of African governments and people;

 

6. Africa’s strategic and natural resources are the property of the people of Africa and the leadership should exploit them for the common good of the people of the continent;

 

7. Uncontrolled spread of small arms and light weapons as well as the problem of landmines, constitute a threat to peace and security in the African continent;

 

8. Good governance including, accountability, transparency, the rule of law, elimination of corruption and unhindered exercise of individual rights as enshrined in the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and those of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a pre-requisite for sustainable peace and security in Africa as well as a necessary condition for economic development, cooperation and integration;

 

9. A fundamental link exists between stability, human security, development and cooperation in a manner that each reinforces the other;

 

10. Sustainable Stability in Africa demands the establishment and strengthening of democratic structures and good governance based on common tenets;

 

11. The rejection of unconstitutional changes of government in any African country as a threat to order and stability in the African continent as a whole;

 

12. Respect and promotion of human rights, the rule of law and equitable social order as the foundation for national and continental stability;

 

13. The eradication of corruption, which undermines Africa’s quest for socio-economic development and the achievement of sustainable stability in the continent;

 

14. No political organisation should be created on the basis of religious, sectarian, ethnic, regional or racial considerations. Political life should be devoid of any extremism;

 

15. The conduct of electoral processes in a transparent and credible manner and a concomitant obligation by the parties and candidates to abide by the outcome of such processes in order to enhance national and continental stability;

 

16. Development is about expanding human freedoms. The effort of Member States at achieving development is aimed at the maximum expansion of the freedoms that people enjoy;

 

17. The freedoms that Africans seek and deserve, inter alia, include freedom from hunger, freedom from disease, freedom from ignorance and access to the basic necessities of life. These freedoms can best be achieved through expansion of the economic space including the rapid creation of wealth;

 

18. Economic development is a combined result of individual action. Africans must be free to work and use their creative energies to improve their well-being in their own countries. The state’s involvement in the activities of individual economic actors should be supportive of individual initiatives;

 

19. Acknowledgement of the important role of the state in economic development not only in providing regulatory framework but also through active cooperation with the private sector to promote economic growth;

 

20. All priorities in economic policy making shall be geared towards eliminating poverty from the continent and generating rapid and sustainable development in the shortest possible time;

 

21. Cooperation and integration in Africa is key to the continent’s socio-economic transformation and effective integration into the world economy;

 

22. Harmonization and strengthening of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in key areas as an essential component of the integration process, through the transfer of certain responsibilities as well as effective reporting and communication structure involving the RECs in continental initiatives;

 

23. Strong political commitment including the involvement of all stakeholders, the private sector, civil society, women and youth as a fundamental principle for the achievement of regional economic integration and development;

 

24. Investment in Science and Technology as a fundamental input into the development of all sectors and raising living standards.

To give effect to the above core values, we undertake to:

1. Develop a collective continental architecture for promoting security and inter-African relations, that goes beyond the traditional military definition and embraces imperatives pertaining to human security, principles relating to good governance, the promotion of democracy and respect for human rights.

 

2. Promote a policy of good neighbourliness as a foundation for enhancing inter-state relations.

 

3. Recommit to the adoption of a comprehensive response for the prevention and resolution of conflict, with emphasis on the prevention and containment of conflicts before they erupt into violent confrontation and the creation of an African capacity for regional peace-support operations as a measure for conflict resolution.

 

4. Strengthen, consolidate and sustain regional and continental conflict management mechanisms, with primary emphasis on the AU Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution and its early warning system.

 

5. Establish a strong cooperation framework for security between the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the AU and the United Nations (UN).

 

6. Undertake to address border problems that continue to threaten the prospects of peace and security in Africa.

 

7. Create and strengthen disaster management mechanisms at national, regional and continental levels.

 

8. Implement the OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism adopted in Algiers in 1999.

 

9. Develop additional protocols, as appropriate, as well as an Action Plan to combat the occurrence and spread of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

 

10. Develop policies to combat the illicit proliferation, trafficking and circulation of small arms and light weapons in Africa.

 

11. Take appropriate measures for the implementation of relevant treaties on landmines, including the Ottawa Treaty on anti-personnel mines and the Kempton Park Plan of Action, as well as develop policies pertaining to the prohibition of landmines in Africa and strengthen the African capacity for landmine clearance.

 

12. Implement policies and agreements designed to eliminate Mercenarism in Africa and other forms of interventions in the internal affairs of African states including the illegal exploitation of the continent’s natural resources, which contributes to the escalation of conflicts on the continent.

 

13. Ensure the delimitation and demarcation of the borders of Member States in a peaceful manner.

 

14. Strengthen the mechanisms for the protection of refugees as provided for in the 1969 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa through the full implementation of the Comprehensive Plan of Action drawn up in Conakry and adopted by the Council of Ministers in Lomé, Togo, in July 2000, with the support and cooperation of the UN and other international agencies.

 

15. Develop national, regional and continental strategies to eradicate criminal organisations and syndicates operating in Africa and establish joint cross-border operations to investigate and apprehend criminal elements and stop money laundering, drug and human trafficking.

 

16. Adhere to the fundamental tenets of a plural democratic society as contained in the 1990 Declaration on the Political and Socio-Economic Situation in Africa and the Fundamental Changes Taking Place In the World, the 1995 Cairo Agenda for Action, the 1999 Grand Bay (Mauritius) Declaration and Plan of Action on Human Rights in Africa, the Lomé Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes and the CSSDCA Solemn Declaration of 2000, amongst others. These should include; promulgated constitution with a Bill of Rights’ provision; free and fair elections at constitutionally stipulated intervals; multiparty political systems; separation of powers; an independent judiciary; a free press and freedom of expression and assembly; effective military subordination to civilian authority, and accountability and popular participation in governance.

 

17. Uphold the principle of constitutionalism so that the political class and civil society at all levels, commit themselves to abiding by and respecting the provisions of the constitutions of their states and guarantee the rights of leaders after they vacate office.

 

18. Ensure the independence of the judiciary through an effective separation of powers, constitutionally guaranteed tenure of office and adequate funding.

 

19. Accept the necessity for significant improvement in the African electoral process including the establishment of truly independent national electoral Commissions and other appropriate mechanisms to ensure transparency, fairness, and credibility of elections.

 

20. Observance, protection and promotion of the human rights of all Africans in accordance with the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, and the Grand Bay Declaration and Plan of Action on Human Rights in Africa including the speedy establishment of the African Court on Human and People’s Rights by signing and/or ratification and respect of this legal instrument as well as of all international instruments on human rights.

 

21. Strengthen, improve and practice good governance in public and private domains in Africa to ensure adherence to the rule of law; strict accountability by all and transparency in public affairs as called for in the 1995 Cairo Agenda for Action, and other decisions of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

 

22. Create conditions for economic stability devoid of economic mismanagement with focus on human security and poverty eradication as called for in the 1995 Cairo Agenda for Action and the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty).

 

23. Encourage and provide enabling conditions for popular participation by all African people in the governance and development of their countries as a basis of a people’s empowerment to direct their socio-economic transformation.

 

24. Provide appropriate conditions for effective participation at national and continental levels by civil society organizations, in particular women’s groups, trade unions, the youth and professional associations as envisaged in the Constitutive Act of the African Union.

 

25. Develop institutional and administrative capacity for dealing effectively with corruption and criminality, both of which threaten the stability of Africa.

 

26. Establish impartial civil service.

 

27. Provide Central banks with the necessary autonomy to enable them to perform their roles effectively as vital structures for economic stability;

 

28. Develop a shared vision on development, regional cooperation and integration;

 

29. Pursue accelerated economic development of our countries as the centre of national policies;

 

30. Promote sustainable economic growth and development through the diversification of the production structure of our economies;

 

31. Create a conducive environment to encourage domestic savings, reverse capital flight and attract foreign savings;

 

32. Ensure popular participation, equal opportunity and equitable access to resources for all our people as the basis of our development objectives and strategies;

 

33. Promote partnership, trust and transparency between leaders and citizens as critical elements of sustainable development, based on mutual responsibilities and a shared vision, and in particular, establish a conducive environment for the private sector to generate wealth;

34. Aim at a shared economic growth that provides opportunities to the poor and the disadvantaged groups in society, including women and youth;

 

35. Work out and implement the follow-up and evaluation of reproductive health policies and programmes in order to guarantee a better balance between population and economic growth;

 

36. Develop and adhere to a code of conduct on good governance aimed at establishing democratic developmental states across the continent to foster cooperation and integration;

 

37. Invest in human resource development, particularly in the quality of education, and promote cooperation between African centres of excellence and Research and Development institutions as well as reverse the brain drain;

 

38. Promote and protect the rights and welfare of the African child;

 

39. Provide political support for regional integration by making appropriate institutional arrangements, including legislative measures, to support integration;

 

40. Provide adequate financial support for regional integration and cooperation by incorporating in our annual national budgets, Member States contribution to RECs and AU, and/or putting in place a self financing mechanism to ensure their efficient functioning;

 

41. Involve all national stakeholders in the regional integration process including giving them an appropriate role;

 

42. Participate fully in infrastructure development programmes pertaining to regional integration process;

 

43. Develop and adhere to a common industrial strategy that takes into account the need for a fair distribution of industries within the RECs;

 

44. Put in place mechanisms for African countries that are in a position to do so to provide additional support to the LDCs in Africa regarding their developmental efforts;

 

45. Consolidate the links between South–South and North–South technical cooperation through triangular models, within the spirit of enhancing collective self-reliance in Africa;

 

46. Continue to present a unified voice in all international negotiations including those on market access, debt relief, FDI, ODA, as well as the setting up of the World Solidarity Fund.

We also agree to adopt the following key performance indicators to evaluate compliance with the commitments we have undertaken in the present Memorandum of Understanding: -

1. Common Definition of Security

Establish by 2005 a framework for codifying into national laws and legislations the concept of human security as contained in the CSSDCA Solemn Declaration, in order to build confidence and collaborative security regimes at national, regional and continental levels.

2. Non-Aggression Pacts

Conclude and ratify bilateral and regional non-aggression pacts (where they do not yet exist) by 2006 on the basis of commonly agreed guidelines.

Define by 2005, in accordance with Article 4 (d) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, Africa’s common defence policy in order to strengthen Africa’s capacity for dealing with conflicts including dealing with external aggression.

Establish by 2003, the modalities or mechanisms for implementing the provisions of Article 4(h) and (j) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, with emphasis on the enhancement of the capacity of the Peace and Security Council to deal with issues relating to peace-support operations, including standby arrangements that were recommended by African Chiefs of Defence Staff.

Establish by 2005 and strengthen in places where they already exist national and regional crime reduction and prevention programmes to deal effectively with the scourge of criminality in Africa. Such programmes should, through effective information sharing system, promote, strengthen and foster joint strategies for the management and control of all forms of crimes within the region. The programme should incorporate a mechanism for annual performance assessment. By 2005, establish effective monitoring of crime statistics by policing agencies in each country.

Take appropriate measures for the effective implementation of the Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on the illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons and the UN Programme of Action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects. In particular, Member States must take the following steps by 2003:

• Establish, where they do not exist, national and regional coordination agencies or frameworks and institutional infrastructure for policy guidance, research and monitoring.

• Adopt the necessary legislative and other measures to establish as criminal offences, the illicit manufacture, possession and trade in small arms and light weapons.

• Adopt appropriate national legislations or regulations to prevent the breaching of arms embargo as decided by the UN Security Council.

• Establish at national, regional and continental levels, a framework for regular dialogue with arms manufacturers and suppliers with a view to checking illicit supply of Small Arms and Light weapons.

• Institute, by 2005, regional and continental conventional arms registers.

• Convene, by 2004, the Second Ministerial Conference on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons to review the status of implementation of the Bamako Declaration and the UN Program of Action. Heads of RECs should also provide status reports on the implementation of their regional programmes.

Establish by 2004, national institutions or mechanisms for prevention, management and resolution of conflicts at community and national levels with active involvement of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs). It should include Emergency Relief Assistance and confidence building measures between ethnic, racial and national groups. Such institutions could be national focal points for regional and continental early warning.

Operationalize by 2005, requisite infrastructure and capacity for effective Early Warning System to deal with conflicts in Africa. This should be based on a model of indicators that provides a Vulnerability Index of African countries, which would serve as an objective basis for early warning action. That mechanism should incorporate effective interlinkages and coordination at regional, continental, and international levels. As part of this process, Member States undertake to facilitate early political action aimed at the prevention of conflicts.

Given the links between illegal exploitation of resources and conflicts, the Peace and Security Council should develop by 2005, a framework for addressing the problem of illegal exploitation of resources in Africa and combating, in a concerted manner, all networks plundering the resources of Africa and fuelling conflicts.

In conformity with the Cairo Summit Decision on borders, conclude by 2012, with the assistance of the UN cartographic unit where required, the delineation and demarcation of African borders, where it has not been done, to strengthen peaceful inter-state relations. The outcome of such exercises should be deposited with the African Union and the United Nations. Prior to 2012 when the process should be completed, there should be bi-annual review of the state of implementation.

By 2003, all OAU/AU Member States that have not done so, should ratify or accede to the 1969 OAU Convention on Refugees and take appropriate measures to adopt the necessary national legislations and/or administrative measures to give full effect to its provisions.

By 2005, the OAU/AU should complete the review of the legal scope of the 1969 Convention to adapt it to current circumstances and to strengthen the Comprehensive Implementation Plan adopted in Conakry 2000. In particular, the supervisory mechanism and oversight functions of the OAU/AU should be strengthened to ensure that Member States provide the Secretariat with information and statistics concerning the condition of refugees, human rights protection and mechanisms for mitigating refugee circumstances, separating armed elements from the refugee population and devising measures to compel rebel groups to respect the rights of refugees, returnees and displaced persons in territories under their control.

Strengthen as soon as possible, existing confidence building measures through, among other means, annual border post activities, joint border patrols, joint border development and management, regular consultations amongst security agencies operating along the borders, joint training programmes for personnel operating at the borders, including workshops and seminars to educate them on regional and continental agreements on free movement of persons, goods and services and stabilising measures for localised crisis situations for inter-state relations.

All Member States to sign and ratify the OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism of 1999 so that it can enter into force by the end of 2002 and fully implement the obligations entered into therein by 2004.

To facilitate a comprehensive response to the problem of terrorism in Africa, consider by 2003, an Action Plan and a Protocol which will provide for, among other things, national, regional and continental strategies to eradicate criminal organisations and syndicates operating in Africa, effective monitoring of the movement of persons and goods across borders by utilising crime analysis and information gathering capability and establishment of joint border operations to investigate and apprehend criminal elements and to stop money laundering, drug and human trafficking.

By 2004 adopt, and in some cases recommit, to the fundamental tenets of a democratic society as stipulated in the CSSDCA Solemn Declaration as an African common position, namely, a Constitution and a Bill of Rights provision, where applicable, free and fair elections, an independent judiciary, freedom of expression and subordination of the military to legitimate civilian authority; rejection of unconstitutional changes of government; and implement these principles by 2005, where they are not already applicable.

Elaborate by 2004 principles of good governance based on commonly agreed set of indicators to be included in national legislations, including decentralization of administration and effective, transparent control of state expenditure. By 2003, all African countries should enact legislation to provide for the impartiality of the public service, the independence of the judiciary and the necessary autonomy of public institutions such as the Central bank and the office of the Auditor-general.

Adopt by 2005 a commonly derived Code of Conduct for Political Office Holders that stipulates among others, an inviolate constitutional limitation on the tenure of elected political office holders based on nationally stipulated periodic renewal of mandates and governments should scrupulously abide by it.

Adoption, signing and ratification of the OAU Convention on Combating Corruption and establish by 2004 in each African country (where it is not presently in existence) an independent anti-corruption Commission, with an independent budget that must annually report to the national parliament on the state of corruption in that country.

Establish by 2003 where they do not exist, independent national electoral commissions and/or other appropriate mechanisms and institutions to ensure free and fair elections in all African countries.

19. Election Observation

Adopt and standardise by 2003, guidelines for independent and effective observations of elections in AU Member States, with the provision of an effective electoral unit within the AU Commission. The guidelines must include provisions for strengthening civil society and local monitoring groups in individual African countries and the continent as a whole to support the process of ensuring free and fair elections.

The Commission should be gradually equipped and funded to conduct independent election observation by 2003. The reports of the various election observation teams of the AU should be made public.

20. Campaign Finance Reforms

Conclude by 2004 appropriate arrangements for the institution of campaign finance reform including disclosure of campaign funding sources and for proportionate state funding of all political parties, to ensure transparency and accountability in electoral contests.

Conclude by 2004 appropriate arrangements, including electoral reforms, for the institution of more inclusive systems of government.

Implement the provisions of the Charter for Popular Participation for development and transformation in Africa, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in 1990 by creating more enabling conditions for increased participation of women, the youth and civil society organizations.

Adopt by 2004 enabling legislations on the formation and operation of political parties to ensure that such parties are not formed and operated on the basis of ethnic, religious, sectarian, regional or racial extremism and establish a threshold of voter support as criteria for public funding, without compromising freedom of association and the principle of multi-party democracy.

By 2003, all Member States should sign and ratify the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and by 2005, fully implement the obligations entered into therein.

By 2003, all Member States to ratify the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and implement the Protocol by 2005, including effective plans of action, in regions where they do not exist, for the demobilization of child soldiers.

By 2004, pending inclusion of a Bill of Rights, where applicable, in every constitution in Africa, all Member States should incorporate into national codes or laws, where it does not exist, provisions of habeas mandamus and habeas corpus to protect every citizen of Africa from arbitrary arrest or detention without trial and other forms of cruel and degrading treatment and put in place mechanisms for the monitoring and effective implementation of these codes.

By 2003, all African countries that have not done so, should ratify all provisions of the Charter on Human and People’s Rights, as well as all other relevant international instruments for the protection and promotion of human rights; and vigorously proceed with the implementation of such requirements including all provisions of the Charter on Peoples and Human Rights and the Grand Bay Declaration and Plan of Action on Human Rights in Africa, including the provision of required resources for the work of these bodies.

By 2004, all African countries should submit annual reports, on the status of human and peoples’ rights within their countries, to the African Commission of Human and Peoples Rights. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights should be provided with adequate resources to enable it to produce comprehensive, independent and publicly available annual surveys by 2006.

By 2005, take measures to promote equality of women, and ensure the representation of women in all national institutions, as well as abrogate discriminatory laws in African countries against women. They should also adopt, sign and ratify the Protocol to the African Charter relating to the Rights of Women in Africa as well as other instruments and mechanisms to guarantee and preserve the rights of women.

By 2005, all Member States to sign, ratify and accede to the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Set up by 2005 in every African country an independent Commission to determine measures for improving prison conditions in Africa, and set up at the same time (where it does not exist), a Parole Board to help reduce congestion in African prisons.

29. Economic Growth

Increase the rate of growth of the economies of Africa by an average annual growth rate of 7%, which is the minimum needed to reduce poverty as stipulated in the International Development Goals and reaffirmed in NEPAD and in previous agreements and commitments.

Increase the savings and investment ratio to the level needed to achieve the 7% growth rate mentioned above.

Reduced levels of capital flight by half by 2008 through appropriate policy measures, with a view to eliminating it by 2015.

32. Foreign Direct Investment

Increased Africa’s share of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows from the current 1% of total global FDI, to a minimum of 2% in 5 years and increase by 2% every year until it reaches 10% of total global FDI flows.