WHAT TRANSPIRED IN CONTINENTAL MEETINGS CHAIRED BY GEN. MUSEVENI, JEJE ODONGO!
Uganda has handed over a report to the African Union in which it is being proposed that the money for responding to crises on the continent must be doubled from the current Sh16bn [USD5million] to Shs37bn [USD10m].
The report was handed over on Thursday at AU commission headquarters. Uganda made this detailed report accounting for her work as chair of the AU Peace and Security Council [PSC] for the month of May 2023.
In this month, Uganda assumed the chairship of the PSC with President Museveni heading the AU heads of State [Summit], foreign affairs minister Gen. Jeje Odongo chaired all African Ministers [Council of ministers] and Amb. Rebecca Amuge Otengo took over as head of PSC based in Adis Ababa on behalf of Uganda.
During this period according to the report, several activities were carried out with meetings and peace support operations taking center stage.
The report shows that President Yoweri Museveni chaired a meeting of heads of state on May 27 and discussed the situation in Sudan.
In that meeting according to the report chanced on by our inspectors, the heads of state chaired by Museveni made several recommendations aimed at ending the crisis in Sudan which broke out after forces loyal to the president, Gen. Bruhan Al-Fatah and his hitherto vice president Gen. Dagalo Hemedti of RSF started exchanging fire.
The Summit chaired by the Ugandan president called on the warring parties to immediately cease fire without and preconditions, stop mobilization and ferrying in of reinforcements, disengage to agreed positions in order to end the suffering of Sudanese people; embrace peaceful resolution of disputes; grant unhindered humanitarian access and resume the political transition process culminating in the conduct of elections towards a democratic civilian-led government.
The report entitled ‘REPORT OF UGANDA TO THE PRC ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL DURING THE MONTH OF MAY’ was presented by Uganda’s Ambassador to Addis Ababa who is also the country’s Permanent Representative to the AU Amb. Rebecca Amuge Otengo.
According to this report, foreign affairs minister Gen. Jeje Abubakhar Odongo on May 12 2023 chaired a meeting of African ministers under PSC to discuss ways and means of ensuring predictable, sustainable and flexible financing AU-led peace support operations in Africa. In this meeting, it was noted that one of the major challenges to the security policy of AU and other regional security mechanisms has largely been lack of enough funding.
“Council [of ministers] decided to increase the ceiling of the Crisis Reserve Facility from USD5million to USD10m for this year and the same provision for 2024. This is to enable the AU to urgently and effectively address emergence peace and security challenges on the continent” reads the report.
The ministers also asked the AU commission to use the AU peace fund to fill the current cash gap in the ATMIS 2022 TO 2024 budget and to submit the proposals in addition to mobilizing resources for AU peace and Security activities on the continent.
FIRST LADIES’ ROLE IN PEACE BUILDING
The PSC during the same month, also received a briefing from H.E Dr. Aisha Buhari, the former First Lady of Nigeria also the president African First Ladies Peace Mission on the activities of this organization. The same PSC received a briefing from Burundian First Lady H.E Angeline Ndayishimiye who now heads the First Ladies Peace Mission in Africa.
“PSC welcomed the concerted efforts of revitalizing the activities of AFLPM and take note of the MoU by the AFLPM and the AU on May 8 2023 to further enhance efforts in advancing the women, peace and security agenda. PSC urged AFLPM to redouble its efforts in the furtherance of the mission’s objectives” the report says adding that the AU was asked to fully fund the activities of first ladies under their mission.
The PSC also had a high level meeting which was the first of its kind with the AU chairperson of AU who is also the president of Comoros H.E Azali Assoumani. Here, extensive and frank deliberations were made on the state of governance, peace and security on the continent with focus on the great lakes region, horn of Africa and Sahel region.
It should be recalled that the Sahel region is currently in the news over numerous coups and terror activities. The President of Niger is the latest to face the wrath of his troops who overthrew him on grounds that he failed to address the issue of terrorism in the country. The coup leaders have since refused to hand over power despite pressure from regional powers led by Nigeria and threats of using military intervention to restore the former democratically elected president.
AUPSC/EU SECURITY COMMITTEE MEETING IN BRUSSELS
From May2-3, Uganda led the PSC to the 6th Annual Joint Informal Retreat and the 14th Annual Joint Consultative Meeting between AU PSC and European Political and Security Committee in Brussels. The 6th Joint retreat according to the report, deliberated on Peace Support Operations and global consequences of geopolitical developments. Here, Namibia and Djibouti led the presentation of peace support operations whereas Ghana alongside Zimbabwe led the presentation of global geopolitical developments.
“The 14th Annual Joint Consultative meeting discussed issues on the Horn of Africa; the Sahel and Chad Basin and the Great lakes Region. Uganda alongside Namibia, Djibouti and Zimbabwe led the presentations on the agenda regarding Horn of Africa while the agenda on the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin were led by Senegal alongside Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia. Burundi alongside Tanzania and South Africa led the agenda on the Great lakes Region” says the report.
In total, according to the report, 18 activities were held in the month of May when Uganda took charge of the AU Peace and Security Council. The detailed report is hereto attached!
