Dlamini-Zuma slams South Sudan violence

Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma slammed the violence in the South Sudan at the opening conference of the African Union Executive Council in Rwanda.

Kigali - “Enough is enough. The violence in South Sudan is unacceptable,” Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma told the opening conference of the 29th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council in Kigali, in Rwanda on Wednesday.

Dlamini-Zuma, the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), was addressing the Council on day four of the 27th African Union (AU) Summit.

Addressing AU heads of state, members of the media, civil society organisations and other Summit delegates, the trailblazing South African politician first complimented Rwanda on how the human spirit could overcome adversity, referring to the dark chapter in that country’s past when Hutu extremists wiped out approximately 800 000 Tutsis, and moderate Hutus, during the 1994 genocide.

Today the Rwandan capital Kigali was an example of how a city with a painful past could become a vibrant city of culture, economic growth, human development, and an example to the African continent, said Dlamini-Zuma.

The AUC chairperson then segued into how concerned she was about the conflict in South Sudan, which over the last week had claimed up to 300 lives.

“It is with grave concern that I see South Sudan erupting into violence just two months after the transitional unity government came into power with the hope of establishing peace,” said Dlamini-Zuma.

“The belligerents are back in the trenches and people are again barricaded behind the doors of their homes.

“The situation is unacceptable and we can’t just stand by as people lose their lives. The cost in homes destroyed, peacekeepers killed and girls abducted is too high.

“We promised not to spend our resources on conflict and the AU’s theme for 2016 is human rights. Enough is enough,” said the chairperson as she appealed for AU intervention where massive human rights abuses were being systematically carried out on the continent.

Dlamini-Zuma then called on AU members to stand together on the issue stating that none of the African countries had a clean track record when it came to the abuse of human rights. A new approach was needed in “silencing the guns” added Dlamini-Zuma.

“We must focus on health and education and put the African people first. In order to implement our dream of an Africa that is integrated and prosperous, we need to take the necessary action and have a Pan-African outlook.

“Jobs need to be created for the millions of young Africans entering the job market each year. Africa’s problem is that it is rich in resources yet so many people are still poor,” said Dlamini-Zuma.

The UAC chairperson then turned to the subject of Africa being self-sufficient.

Quoting former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel-Nasser, one of the founders of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), Dlamini said: “He who can’t support himself can’t make his own decisions. Self-reliance and self-sufficiency are vital”.

Concluding her address to the Executive Committee, Dlamini-Zuma, a champion of gender equality, focused on the rights of women and girls.

Rwanda had worked hard towards the empowerment of women and girls and was a leader in the area, said the chairperson.

“Rwanda has a significant number of women in the government and many officials in the judiciary. The country was also pro-active in passing legislation which protected women and guaranteed their rights,” said Dlamini-Zuma whose tenure as chairperson of the AUC is coming to an end.

Dlamini-Zuma is not running for a second term in office of the 54-member bloc and could leave the post as early as this month.

“What we ultimately want is women and men working side by side in ending disease and hunger, resolving conflict and making the continent great,” said Dlamini-Zuma.

African News Agency