Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to lead a South African Delegation to the 16th AU Executive Council Meeting, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).

Pretoria – International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will lead the South African delegation to the 16th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council scheduled for 28-29 January 2010, ahead of the 14th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit scheduled to take place from 31 January 2010 – 2 February 2010 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

South Africa participates in the 16th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council within the context of its stated foreign policy objective of consolidating the African Agenda that seeks to promote peace and security on the continent; strengthen the pursuit of governance and democracy; deepen regional integration; deal with challenges relating to good governance; develop skills and build capacity constraints within the organs of the AU; and advance Africa’s development agenda.

As a build up to the Summit that convenes under the theme “Information and Communication Technologies in Africa: Challenges and Prospects for the Future” the 16th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council will closely consider the following item:

• Report of the Ministerial Meeting on Information Communication Technologies (ICT) following the Extra–Ordinary Conference of African Ministers in Charge of Communications and Information Technologies (CIT) held on 02-05 November 2009 in Kempton Park, South Africa under the theme “Information and Communication Technologies in Africa: Challenges and Prospects for Development”.  Accordingly the Executive Council will deliberate on four broad themes which are: Enabling Environment for ICT growth; ICT Infrastructure Development; Africa in the Economics of the Internet and ICT Capacity Building, Research and Development and come up with concrete recommendations pertaining to ICT.

In addition, the Ordinary Session is expected to deliberate on and adopt, among others, the following reports:

• Report of the 7th Ordinary Session of the AU Labour and Social Affairs Commission, following a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 28 September – 2 October 2009;
  
  
• Report of the 2nd AU Conference of Ministers responsible for Maritime Transport, following a meeting in Durban, South Africa, 12-16 October 2009;
  
  
• Report of the 3rd Conference of African Ministers of Sports (CAMS3), following a meeting held in Abuja, Nigeria, 15‑16 October 2009;
  
  
• Report of the 3rd Conference of African Ministers of Sports (CAMS3), Abuja, Nigeria, 15‑16 October 2009;
  
  
• Report of the Commission on the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) following a meeting held in Midrand, South Africa, 9-13 November 2009;
  
  
• Report of the Commission on the 13th Session of the Standing Commission for the Afro‑Arab Cooperation, following a meeting in Tripoli, Libya, 10-12 October 2009;
  
  
• Report of the Second Conference of  AU Ministers in Charge of Hydrocarbons (Oil and Gas), following a meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 9-11 December 2009;
  
  
• Consideration of the Report of the Commission on the Situation in the Middle East and Palestine; and
  
  
• Consideration of the Report of the Chairperson of the Conference of African Ministers of Integration (COMAI).

Furthermore, Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is also expected to chair the meeting of the AU Ministerial Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development in the Sudan.

Upon conclusion of the 16th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane will provide support to President Jacob Zuma who will lead the South African delegation to the 14th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit from 31 January 2010 – 2 February 2010.

For more information contact the Chief Director for Public Diplomacy, Mr Saul Kgomotso Molobi, on 082 940 1647.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation
OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
PRETORIA
0001

23 January 2010