The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 352^ndmeeting held on 16 January 2013, adopted the following decision on post-conflict reconstruction and development (PCRD) efforts in Africa:

 

 

Council,

 

1. Takes note of the First Progress Report of the Chairperson of the Commission on AU’s Efforts on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) in Africa (PSC/PR/2(CCCLII) and the complementary briefing provided by the Commissioner for Peace and Security, as well as the remarks made by the Commissioner for Political Affairs;

 

1. Recalls the AU-PCRD Policy adopted by the Executive Council in June 2006 in Banjul, The Gambia, and underlines the multidimensional character of PCRD. Council commends the Commission for the efforts deployed so far in implementing the Policy;

 

1. Welcomes the launching of the African Solidarity Initiative (ASI), and stresses that the mobilization of support from within Africa is coming at a critical stage in the history of the continent. In this respect, Council calls on Member States to fully appropriate and support the Initiative;

 

1. Stresses the uniqueness of the ASI, which has the potential to promote a new paradigm of Africa helping Africa, capable of enhancing the spirit of pan?Africanism, solidarity and African renaissance;

 

1. Calls for greater cooperation within the Commission, among Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs), as well as with partners, including those in South-South cooperation, in the implementation of ASI. Council stresses the need for outlining areas of competence of each partner, as well as the building of synergy and complementarities among partners;

 

1. Stresses the importance of promoting champions on the continent with the capacity necessary for taking initiatives towards implementation of post-conflict reconstruction and development programmes;

 

1. Urges all Member States to extend full support towards the organization of an African Solidarity Conference (ASC) planned for the second half of 2013, as part of activities marking the 50^th Anniversary of the OAU-AU, and requests the Commission to expedite the process of documentation related to this event;

 

1. Calls for a regular review of PCRD implementation with a view to monitoring progress, drawing and documenting lessons learned, taking into consideration gender dimensions. In this respect, Council requests the Commission to submit to it regular reports on the implementation of the AU-PCRD Policy and the ASI in particular;

 

1. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

 

COMMENTS