Minister Dlamini Zuma to lead Sudanese AU Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Ministerial Meeting

Pretoria – South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on Sunday 30 March 2008 depart for Khartoum, Sudan where she will lead an African Union Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Committee Ministerial meeting to Khartoum and Juba scheduled from 31 March – 2 April 2008.

The afore-mentioned Ministerial Committee is composed of Foreign Ministers of Algeria, Gabon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and the Sudan.

Minister Dlamini Zuma will lead this delegation of Foreign Ministers to Sudan within the context of South Africa position’s as Chair of the AU Ministerial Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development in the Sudan.

The AU Ministerial Committee for the Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development in the Sudan was mandated by the AU Summit of Heads of State and Government in July 2003 to:

• Assess the needs and the magnitude of post conflict challenges in Sudan;
• Mobilise, as broadly as possible, African support for post conflict reconstruction and development in Sudan; and
• Sensitise the international community about the magnitude of post-conflict reconstruction in Sudan and mobilise their support accordingly.

In June 2004, an African Union Assessment Mission to the Sudan identified the following priorities for post conflict reconstruction:

• The imperative to focus on the needs of vulnerable groups;
• Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration;
• Primary health care, including the immunisation of children and maternal health;
• De-mining; and
• Support for civil society.

Accordingly, this session of the AU Ministerial Commission on Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development in Sudan Committee meeting is expected to:

• Assess progress on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA); and
• Brief the Sudanese authorities on their assessment of the implementation of the CPA

Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to return to South Africa on Wednesday 2 April 2008 ahead of the South Africa – Democratic Republic of Congo Binational Commission where she will support President Thabo Mbeki.

Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Projects Currently Underway

The MoU on Development Assistance for Policing in the Sudan was signed in May 2007 and fact-finding mission to the Sudan (Khartoum, Southern Sudan and Darfur) was undertaken by the DFA and the South African Police Services in December 2007.  The next step is to convene a meeting between SAPS and the Sudan Police (both North and South) to develop a business plan for the implementation of the training.

The implementation of the DFA-GoSS-UNISA Capacity and Institution Building Project for Southern Sudan is proceeding according to plan. To date, 16 training programmes have been implemented and 804 GOSS Officials have been trained.  The Department of Foreign Affairs and UNISA undertook an assessment mission to Southern Sudan in September 2007 to align the Project with new priorities and to assess the training facility that has been made available by the GOSS in order to conduct some of the training in Southern Sudan.

The United Nations and Partners Work Plan for Sudan for 2008 was launched in Geneva on 11 December 2007.  The amount requested was US$2.29b, of which US$1.8b is for humanitarian assistance, US$686m for early recovery and US$425m for recovery and development.  Secured funds are at US $450m.

The Common Humanitarian Fund and the Central Emergency Response Fund continue to support emergency humanitarian needs throughout the Sudan, in particular in Southern Sudan and Darfur. The UN is in the process of finalising the UN Development Assistance Framework, which outlines a longer-term plan for recovery and development throughout the Sudan and in line with the five-year strategic plan of the Government of the Sudan.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

29 March 2008