African Union and A24 Media in Make Peace Happen partnership

By Peter Omondi

The African Union Commission and A24 Media today announced a strategic partnership under the banner of the Year of Peace and Security in Africa. Under
this partnership, A24 Media will provide communication support through the distribution of news and information on the implementation of the Year of Peace and Security to its vast African and international networks through its online portal www.a24media.com.

Speaking on the occasion of the announcement, Commissioner, Peace and Security, Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra said: “Communication is a key driver for the success of this campaign; we are keen to ensure that the message of the Year of Peace and Security is carried to as broad an audience as possible, as a way of mobilising all stakeholders to take action for this historic initiative. A24 Media offers the Commission just such a platform and we are pleased that they stepped forward to join hands with the AU to make peace happen”.

On his part, A24 Media Chairman, Salim Amin, said: “As a private sector player in the media, we are responding to the call by Heads of State and Government of the African Union to ensure that Africans have access to information that empowers them to make a positive change towards peace at every level. Due to our wide network, A24 Media is well placed to

partner with Africa’s premier organisation to achieve the objectives of this campaign”. This partnership comes at a time when the AU Assembly has reiterated the key activities to be undertaken on Peace Day (21 September), which are:

(i) cessation of hostilities in all conflict areas which are still experiencing varying levels of violence;

(ii) distribution of humanitarian supplies, materials and services to communities in conflict areas, as well as in non conflict areas in critical need of these;

(iii) one minute of silence for peace across Africa at 10.00am GMT;

(iv) relevant developmental work and community support in all AU Member States to be carried out by members of the armed and security forces;

(v) One Day One Goal football games;

(vi) Make Peace Happen Lesson Plan to be taught in all schools on Peace Day or during other relevant occasions.

African leaders also urged all Member States of the African Union to mobilize all stakeholders and set up the required structures to coordinate the activities to be implemented on Peace Day. With just over 34 days to go to Peace Day, the African Union is calling upon all Africans to do something to make peace happen in 2010 and beyond. A24 Media is Africa’s first online delivery site for material from contributors, journalists and broadcasters from all over Africa. They hold the belief that Africa has a largely positive side that is rarely told and with this in mind, they aim to showcase the positive side in our continent, but without shying away from the negative side. Their mandate is to tell the African story from an African perspective.

Year of Peace and Security in Africa

On 31 August 2009, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), meeting in Tripoli, on the occasion of the Special Session on the Consideration and Resolution of Conflicts in Africa, declared 2010 to be the Year of Peace and Security on the continent, proclaiming in paragraph 9 of the Tripoli Declaration:
“We are determined to deal once and for all with the scourge of conflicts and violence on our continent, acknowledging our shortcomings and errors, committing our resources and our best people, and missing no opportunity to push forward the agenda of conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and post conflict reconstruction. We, as leaders, simply cannot bequeath the burden of conflicts to the next generation of Africans”.

The convening of the Special Session and the decisions taken, including the adoption of a Plan of Action, bore testimony to African Leaders’ renewed determination to give further impetus to the implementation of relevant AU decisions and to promote lasting peace, security and stability on the continent, for without such an environment the vision of the political and economic integration and development of Africa will not materialise.During the AU Summit held in Addis Ababa in January 2010, all 53 African Heads of State and Government, or their representatives, reaffirmed their commitment to the Tripoli Declaration and the objectives of the Year of Peace and Security in Africa. The overarching message for the Year of Peace and Security in Africa is Make Peace Happen.