During the recently held negotiation on Development Co-operation between the African Union (AU) and Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, the German government committed additional funding, amounting to 30 million Euro - i.e. USD 45 million - for the period covering 2009/2010 as part of the co-operation with the AU and AU-Commission, thus duplicating previous levels of commitment.
For this, we commend the German government for their consideration.
As it's said, this co-operation will be fully aligned to the new AU strategic objectives - Peace and Security, Shared Values, Development, Integration and Cooperation, and Institutional Transformation.
We urge the concerned authorities to subsequently use the funds judiciously to liberate the continent from many difficult years of economic disintegration.
The German delegation emphasised the pivotal role of the AU for the process of African integration, and as a partner in the globalised world.
Specifically, the German delegation lauded the AU Strategic Plan 2009-2012, and the significant progress the AU made in advancing the African political agenda, e.g peace & security.
Both parties shared the view that the voice of Africa should be more clearly audible in the global forum.
AU/German Co-operation will focus on respective priority areas, in particular the establishment of the African Peace and Security Architecture, the Sharm el Sheik Water agenda and the Charter for Democracy and Elections, among others. Special emphasis is put on regional infrastructure.
Germany will contribute 10 million euros to the Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility at the African Development Bank, which is preparing regional and Pan-African AU priority infrastructure projects.
While we call on other developed countries to emulate the German government, it is equally important and high time for African governments to get rid of corruption in all walks of life.
"True kindness presupposes the faculty of imagining as one's own the suffering and joy of others."
Andre Gide
