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Golden Jubilee of OAU/AU

Golden Jubilee of OAU/AU: AU-SAFGRAD and Burkina Faso Play their parts!

Baptism of a main crossroads as African Union Place, Mobilization of two thousand people for country-cross running in the streets of the capital city, Series of conferences animated by some eminent university professors around the theme « Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance », Round table in prime time on National television broadcasted by satellite to the four corners of the world…, Certainly, the « Land of the Uprights » has set the bar very high to launch the ceremonies for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of OAU/AU.

The launching of the activities was solemnly done this Monday 20 May 2013 in Ouaga 2000 Banqueting Hall by H.E.The Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Luc Adolphe TIAO in presence of most members of his government including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation H.E. Mr Djibril BASSOLE. Many guests including mainly officials, traditional authorities, AU-SAFGRAD staff, African communities living in Burkina Faso as well as many journalists. Among the distinguished guests, was the Diplomatic Corps, mainly composed of Ambassadors of AU State Members.

African Union Coordinator, Dr Ahmed ELMEKASS was sitting at the presidium. First to take the floor he emphasized the stakes of OAU/AU golden Jubilee celebration. He notably recalled the decision taken by African leaders in Addis Ababa in 2012 to make of 2013 the year of the fiftieth anniversary. He returned back on the visionary role of the founding Fathers among which Kwame NKRUMAH, Haile SELASIE, Gamal Abdel NASSER... and Maurice YAMEOGO, first President of Upper Volta, now known as Burkina Faso.

After him, the Prime Minister of Burkina Faso and the State Minister BASSOLE came back on the meaning of the event. They recalled the major role played by their country, headed by the President of Burkina Faso, in the process of African integration. Once the various speeches were delivered, therefore, could sound the AU anthem followed by the Ditanyè, the national anthem of the country. Then, the flame of peace was lightened by the Prime Minister TIAO under the cheers of an enthusiastic audience.

But the core of the celebrations was undoubtedly the baptism of the new public square of the African Union. Thus, after the United Nations roundabout, people should now get used to African Union (AU) square. The Pan-African organization from now on, gives its name to an important crossroads at the intersection of two major roads including the one leading to the future major International Airport of the country referred to as Donsin Airport. Another important public place located in Bobo Dioulasso, the second city of the country will be baptized in June. In front of the City Council and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Coordinator of AU-SAFGRAD, Dr. Ahmed ELMEKASS saluted, in the name of the Commission and African Union the important role played by Burkina Faso in the advent of a united, prosperous and peaceful Africa as wished by the founding Fathers in their meeting in Addis Ababa in 1963.

On the other hand, other activities not less important are already secured. Among them a large public conference organized by AU-SAFGRAD on 25 May 2013, targeting the youth and animated by a panel of half a dozen high-level personalities including university professors and women from the civil society. A great gala night called "African Night" is also planned for this Tuesday, 21^st May in a large theatre of the capital city.

The capital of Burkina Faso, which is hosting three offices of the African Union among which AU-SAFGRAD established in Ouagadougou for more than 35 years, wants to definitely and fully play its part in this year of the celebration of the OAU/AU Golden Jubilee.

Download the summary (pdf format) here: Activities Golden Jubilee in Burkina Faso

Training course on Climate Change (7-17 May 2013)

AU SAFGRAD is organizing a training course on “The impact of climate change and desertification on agriculture and food security”, 07 to 17 May, 2013, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

The African Union Technical Office for the Promotion of Semi-Arid Food Grain Research and Development (AU-SAFGRAD) is a technical office of the Africa Union located in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Its mandate is “to contribute to the advancement of agricultural research, technology transfer and marketing as well as to the management of natural resources by facilitating and coordinating the use of the scientific talents of National Agricultural Research Centers (NARCs), International Agricultural Research Centers (IARCs) and Scientific Research Organizations (SROs) to enhance food security, promote sustainable agriculture, development of irrigation agriculture, both in rural and pre-urban areas of the semi-arid zones of Africa”.

One of AU-SAFGRAD 2013 programs is capacity building of African Agricultural Institutions through training. The aim of this program is to strengthen the capacity of young researchers in the agriculture field and raise their awareness on the impact of climate change and desertification on agriculture and food security. In this regard, AU-SAFGRAD in collaboration with the Arab Fund for Technical Assistance to African Countries (AFTAAC) is organizing a training course for 20 young African researchers entitled “The impact of climate change and desertification on agriculture and food security” from 07 to 17 May, 2013 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. This training session will be entirely conducted in English language.

FESPACO 2013

African Union-SAFGRAD

SENEGAL AND MALI HONOURED AT THE 23^rd EDITION OF PAN AFRICAN MOVIES FESTIVAL (FESPACO) IN OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO

Saturday, February 2^nd, End Board! at Pan African Movies and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) chaired by H.E. Blaise Compaoré, Président of Burkina Faso. The closing ceremony held in the main Capital City stadium reveals the final victory of Senegal which wins the first Prize while African Union Special Award goes to a Malian movie.

Senegalese movies « TEY » (« TODAY » in English) from Alain GOMIS and LA PIROGUE (The Boat in English) from MoussaTouré respectively win the first and third prizes while the movie YEMA from the Algerian Djamila SAHRAOUI takes the second place of the FESPACO rewards. This is the first time that Senegal Cinema occupies the first place since the beginning of the Pan African Films meeting in 1969. A total of 10 prizes at least are earned by Senegalese films this year which were competing with 101 movies from 34 African Countries.

The African Union Special Prize for Promotion of Peace and Security in Africa, the winner is the Malian movies maker Ibrahima TOURE for his film « TOILES D’ARAIGNEES ». According to Ambassador Ambroise NIYONSABA, Chair of the AU Special Prize Jury, The Malian film is “a denunciation of a system characterized by violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, physical and moral violence on women, brutality and torture, bad governance and corruption that are all sources of conflicts”.

Talking in the presence of the Burkinabe President, various Medias and a numerous public gathered at the main national soccer stadium, H.E Ambroise NIYONSABA said that: «This denunciation, played in an emotional way by the main actress of the film could contribute to sensitizing in favor of democracy, human rights, non-violence et culture of peace”. H.E Ambroise NIYONSABA who is the Special Envoy of AU Chairperson in Cote d’Ivoire, takes the opportunity of the FESPACO floor to call African Movies makers to get more interested in African peace and security thematic.

Institutionalized for the first time this year, AU Special Prize, an amount of Eight million CFA (USD 16,000.00) with a trophy is financially the highest among all the current FESPACO awards. This prize is a part of “Make Peace happen” campaign launched by AUC Peace and Security Department. Its five Jury Members composed by representatives of AU, UNESCO and FESPACO take advantages of facilities provided by African Union-SAFGRAD, the African Union specialized technical office for Semi Arid Food Grains Research and Development, Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), venue of the Pan African Films Festival.

Looking forward for the next FESPACO edition planned to take place in March 2015.


*Daily Meeting of AU Special Prize Jury Members at African Union SAFGRAD Office*

For more details, please contact : Mr. Youssoupha MBENGUE, Senior information and outreach Officer

African Union-SAFGRAD, Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser. , Tel. +226 50 31 15 98/ +226 50 31 15 86

AU Champions Peace on the Continent at the 2013 Pan-African Film and Television Festival

PRESS RELEASE (AUC, Addis Ababa)

AU Champions Peace on the Continent at the 2013 Pan-African Film and Television Festival

A team from the African Union Commission is in Ouagadougou to participate in the Pan-African Film and Television Festival (FESPACO) as part of a special jury tasked with selecting the winner of a special Peace and Security Award.

The objective of the award is to recognize, reward and honor the best of African cinematography and videography that promotes a culture of peace and non-violence in line with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on 14 December 2012, between the Commission and the Government of Burkina Faso, acting on behalf of FESPACO.