Briefing on South Africa’s support of mediation and conflict resolution efforts regarding the African Union programme, “Silencing the Guns”; with Deputy Minister

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International Relations

15 June 2022
Chairperson: Mr S Mahumapelo (ANC)
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Meeting Summary

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The Department of International Relations and Cooperation briefed the Committee on the African Union Silencing the Guns programme. The presentation covered the Silencing the Guns programme, including achievements, challenges and opportunities envisaged. African leaders have observed that threats to peace and security, both traditional and emerging ones, continue to multiply in various parts of the continent, particularly when considering the conflict areas. The emergence of these threats fuels crises and conflicts and thus exacerbates the ability of the AU and African countries to prevent conflicts, resolve existing ones, and advance socio-economic development. Despite the ongoing mixed results in the efforts to Silence the Guns on the African continent, there is hope for eventual success. The aim is to see South Africa continue to play its role as a trusted and important African country in attaining peace and security on the continent.

The Committee noted the discussions on the programme were a work in progress.

Meeting report

The Chairperson welcomed Members to the meeting. The parliamentary programme for the day was packed, so the Committee would have to try and attend to as many matters as possible, and therefore the meeting would have to be kept short.

The meeting agenda was read out to be adopted by the Committee.

The Chairperson suggested the second agenda item dealing with the Committee’s Annual Performance Plan (APP) and Strategic Plan be dealt with at a later date to allow Members to read through the documentation. The Committee would deal with it once they returned from recess, and the meeting would then only focus on the first agenda item.

Members agreed.
 
The Chairperson noted an apology he received from the Director-General. Mr Clayson Monyela, Deputy Director-General (DDG): Public Diplomacy, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), would lead the delegation in his absence.

Mr Monyela thanked the Chairperson and greeted Members. He introduced Mr Luvuyo Ndimeni, Dirco, and handed over to him to present the achievements, challenges and envisaged opportunities in advancing the African Union’s flagship project.

Presentation on South Africa’s achievements and challenges in support of the “Silencing the Guns” flagship project by the African Union

Mr Ndimeni clarified that the ARF was a different section and that he was going to focus on the achievements of the "Silencing of the Guns" programme.

Overview
The political commitment to Silence the Guns was initially articulated by AU Heads of State and Government during the 50th Anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity/African Union (OAU/AU) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 25 May 2013.

The commitment to Silence the Guns was further articulated in AU Agenda 2063.

The African Union’s theme for 2020, during the South African chairship, was "Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa's Development".

African leaders have observed that threats to peace and security, both traditional and emerging ones, continue to multiply in various parts of the continent, particularly when considering the conflict areas such as the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, the Central African region, eastern Congo, the Horn of Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, and Libya.

The emergence of these threats fuels crises and conflicts and thus exacerbates the ability of the AU and African countries to prevent conflicts, resolve existing ones, and advance socio-economic development.

Achievements
-In 2017, the Assembly of the Union adopted a strategic document known as the “AU Master Roadmap (AUMR) of Practical Steps to Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020’. Since the adoption of the Master Roadmap, the AU Peace and Security Council has led efforts in the implementation of the AUMR
-Among these practical steps has been an outreach to member states to better inform them of the objectives of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).
-The ATT obligates member states to monitor arms exports and ensure that weapons do not violate existing arms embargoes or end up being used to perpetrate human rights abuses, including terrorism.
-A notable milestone has been the progress made in operationalising the African Standby Force (ASF), which is a key component of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), designed to address crises, conflicts, and humanitarian emergencies and disasters.
-The ASF is also intended to provide the AU with the capability to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies.
-The deployment of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) in the Cabo Delgado Province is an important step forward in operationalising the ASF.
-The 13th Extraordinary Summit of the AU Assembly on 6 December 2020 resolved to postpone the implementation of the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa to 2030 with biennial reviews. 
-The Assembly also resolved to extend observation of the Africa Amnesty Month during September for ten years, within the context of Agenda 2063.   Amnesty month provides for collecting and disposing Small Arms and Light Weapons illegally owned by civilians.
-Revitalising the AU Peace Fund, which now holds a significant financial endowment, is also a key achievement.
-This will enhance the capacity of the AU to mobilise funding for early and effective responses, including deployments of peace support operations, to areas of conflict.
-It will also lessen the unpredictability of obtaining such funding.
- South Africa's participation in the AU High-Level Ad-hoc Committee on South Sudan has registered major achievements, notably, the signing of the Revitalised Agreement to Resolve the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) through President Ramaphosa's Special Envoy, Deputy President David Mabuza
-The Malabo Declaration on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa of 28 May 2022 is a solid step towards achieving the quest to Silence the Guns.

Challenges
-The COVID-19 pandemic stood out as a serious obstacle in efforts to Silence the Guns on the African continent. Specifically, the global lockdown because of the pandemic interrupted several initiatives since 2020. It was reported at the May 2022 Malabo Summit that the threat of terrorism and violent extremism is real and has, for the first time, spread to all five regions of the continent. Between 2012 and 2020, terrorist attacks on the continent have grown four-fold, or by 400%.
-Resurgence of unconstitutional changes of power phenomenon on the African continent:  Four coups d'état took place between 2021 and early 2022, resulting in the four countries where it happened all being suspended by the AU PSC.
-The presence of foreign fighters or mercenaries in conflict theatres like Libya and the Sahel region continues to pose a major challenge that perpetuates instability and conflict.
-The non-observance by some Member States of the Africa Amnesty contributes negatively as the challenge of Small Arms and Light Weapons proliferation is left unaddressed.
-The May 2022 Malabo Summit also highlighted the need to strengthen the Africa Governance Architecture (AGA) and the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).

Opportunities
-Despite the ongoing mixed results in the efforts to Silence the Guns on the African continent, there is hope for eventual success.
-South Africa assumed a two-year seat on the AUPSC (2022-23) and will chair this AU Organ in February 2023.
-South Africa will use this opportunity to exert its influence and play its part in helping Africa to Silence the Guns in line with its priorities.
- The aim is to see South Africa continuing to play its role as a trusted and important African country in the attainment of peace and security on the continent

Discussion
The Chairperson thanked Mr Monyela for the presentations and acknowledged the presence of Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini.

Mr G Hendricks (Al Jama-ah) mentioned that he was a member of the African Union focus group and took a special interest in the matters presented.

He requested further information on the standby force. The current Minister of Defence appealed to Parliament for the standby force to consist of at least 50% women. What was the progress made in that regard?

He was happy to hear about the Amnesty Month in September, as this took a bottom-up approach to remove small arms from communities. This was important, especially in the Cape Flats, where many small arms circulated. There was a need for small arms reduction to counter gangsterism. This was not only a country-to-country and border conflict, but it also needed to filter through the streets. People could be safe in their houses, streets, schools and shopping centres.

Mr Hendricks was very happy that there was an element of looking at the bottom-up approach because they needed to filter their ideas to the streets to silence the guns.

He was interested to know about the agenda of the standby force and to hear some more information on what South Africa was doing as far as silencing the guns in the streets was concerned.

The Chairperson thanked Mr Hendricks for his comment and took it that the discussions were a work in progress.

He adjourned the meeting.
 

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