Launching of 'THE AFRICAN UNION WE WANT!' Booklet

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 23, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Centre for Citizens' Participation on the African Union (CCP-AU) is to launch 'THE AFRICAN UNION WE WANT' booklet which carries a collection of African citizens' and civil society views and perspectives on the African Union (AU) on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at the African Union Commission Briefing Room 1 at 1700 hrs.

The CCP-AU collected the views of African citizens and civil society and compiled their views, aspirations and expectations about the AU by asking them to share what kind of AU they would like to have. Ms. Janah Ncube, Executive Director of the CCP-AU explained that “The CCP-AU mandate is to bring the voices of African citizens to the AU and to the continental decision making process.” More than 250 submissions were made through twitter, emails, smses and our website from Africans of all walks of life from all corners of the continent including the Diaspora.

The views expressed touch the many concerns that Africans have about the AU including the over-dependence of the AU on donors from non-African sources, the low record of implementing decisions and the harmonization of the continental and regional agenda by Regional Economic Communities (RECs). “I want to see an African Union with real teeth, an AU that can push Africa at the international stage while also putting its own house in order economically, infrastructural and development wise”, said one of the citizens. The aspirations that citizens have shared include, but are not limited to; a union of Citizens not only of leaders and States and the Freedom of movement for Africans within Africa.

Mr. Donald Deya, the CCP-AU Board Chairperson stressed that “We Africans are the ones who can make the AU a people driven body, not only the political leaders and elites.” The CCP-AU advocates for citizens and civil society to participate in the decision making process of the AU, its Organs and Institutions as well as the RECs.

The CCP-AU is an independent network of national, regional and continental civil society organizations and citizens working to promote the African Union (AU) and ensuring that the AU is a people driven entity. Our vision is to see a people driven African Union, which is accountable and accessible to African citizens.