New Leadership for the African Union: Scenarios for Change

Event Type
Briefing and Expert-Debate

Location / Date
Berlin, 10.04.2013

GIZ Sector Network Good Governance in Sub-Saharan Africa (GGA)
German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE) Institute for Security Studies (ISS)

The implementation of the pan-African integration through African Union as well as regional integration through the eight officially acknowledged Regional Economic Communities is high on the political agenda – its implementation is, however, lagging behind. The ambitious integration-plans are often challenged by issues of national sovereignty, low resources and capacities, unclear responsibilities between pan-African, regional and national level, weak mandates and lacking monitoring mechanisms to name a few.

The 2012 election of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) is seen as a new beginning for the pan-African integration. While the election paralysed and divided the African Union once done positive signs were noted addressing AUC structural problems as well as reviving the dialogue with the Regional Economic Communities. A new era of integration and progress is expected.

During the discussion Paul-Simon Handy and Stephan Klingebiel introduced their current view and suggested scenarios to the audience. Mechthild Rünger added her perspective and experience as Director of the GIZ AU-office. A facilitated debate ensured that practitioners from GIZ programmes, scholars and other guests who joined the debate and discussed challenges and opportunities as well as implications for German Development Cooperation.

Programme:

• Paul-Simon Handy, Institute for Security Studies, Head of Division on Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis
• Stephan Klingebiel, German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Head of Department “Bi- and Multilateral Development Cooperation”
• Mechthild Rünger, Director of the GIZ AU-Office

Organisatoren:

• Bjoern Richter, Silke Hansen (GIZ GGA)

Hinweis

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