AU 6TH REGION ELECTIONS

November 20, 2024 William Carew, Head ECOSOCC Secretariat 8658 Kudu Road Kabulonga, Lusaka, Zambia Ta e-poštni naslov je zaščiten proti smetenju. Potrebujete Javascript za pogled. Ta e-poštni naslov je zaščiten proti smetenju. Potrebujete Javascript za pogled. Tel: (260) 211429405 Angela Naa Afoley Odai, Head Diaspora Division, The Citizens & Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) African Union Headquarters P.O. Box 3243, Roosevelt Street W21K19 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: +251 11 551 77 00 Ta e-poštni naslov je zaščiten proti smetenju. Potrebujete Javascript za pogled. CC: Mr. Kyeretwie Osei, Head of Programmes, ECOSOCC Secretariat; Hilda Suka-Mafudze, Permanent Representative of the African Union, to the United States of America (USA) RE: AU 6thRegion Elections for ECOSOCC Greetings Mr. Carew, On behalf of the nine Regional Coordinators of the AU 6th Region Elections Town Hall Meetings I am writing to you today to inform you that African Diaspora Civil Society is convening elections to choose its twenty (20) representatives pursuant to the Statutes of ECOSOCC Articles 3, 4, 5 and 6, and 1 specifically ECOSOCC Statute Article 5 section 3 that states, "African Diaspora organizations shall establish an appropriate process for determining modalities for elections and elect twenty (20) CSO's to the ECOSOCC General Assembly". We felt compelled to move forward with this process since the ECOSOCC Call for Application for Elections into the 4th Permanent General Assembly excludes the AU 6th region and left them with no framework or process under the Article 3(q) Amendment that officially, “invite(s) and encourage(s) the full participation of Africans in the Diaspora in the building of the African Union in its capacity as an important part of our Continent.” We are aware that the legal 1 See: TOWN HALL MEETING SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES ELECTIONS PROCESS FOR AFRICAN DIASPORA REPRESENTATIVES TO THE AU-ECOSOCC 4TH GENERAL ASSEMBLYhttps://www.balanta.org/news/town-hall-meeting-successfully-launches-elections-for-african-diaspora-representativesto-the-au-ecosocc-4th-general-assembly 1

framework for the Diaspora’s inclusion is not yet complete- a task to which I contributed as a consultant.2 The 6th Region Election is a parallel process to the elections process for the 5 regions on the continent. In addition, parallel to our election process, there will be an effort to organize all nine (9) sub-regions of the AU 6th Region into legal, structured, engaged and representative bodies (Pan African Networks (PANs) to coordinate with the AU. We are mindful of the Eligibility requirements (as per Articles 6 of the ECOSOCC Statutes) to be fulfilled by CSOs seeking membership. Some of those requirements will not apply to our representatives given our unique condition outside of the African continent and due to the nature of our heritage. Be assured, however, that our process is designed to align with these requirements and fulfill whatever conditions that may be determined when the legal framework is completed. We reiterate, we have initiated this process cognizant of the African Union Theme for the Year for 2025“Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations” and in the spirit of the 2023 Accra Proclamation on Reparations as well as the the African Union Transitional Justice Policy whose overall objective is “to connect advocacy groups in Africa and the Global African Diaspora for a common and united reparations agenda.” Central to that reparations agenda is the “inner” reparations (repair work) that the global African family must do and its greatest expression is the AU Article 3(q) amendment which AU ECOSOCC must make real. To ensure that the 4th General Assembly- which starts its work during the year of Justice for Africans and People of African Descent- reflects this spirit and inner repair work by showing that reparatory justice starts at home, it is only fitting that AU ECOSOCC seat as quickly as possible the African Diaspora representatives as equal members with the other five regions. Towards this end, we are following ECOSOCC Statute Article 5 section 3 so that the African Diaspora is ready, whenever the legal framework is put in place, to join the 4th Assembly as it starts its work for this very important thematic year. Your guidance and recommendations are appreciated. Most respectfully, Siphiwe Baleka, Coordinator for: Abemi Ade Sinaimo- Brazil Coordinator- Natl. Network of Black Women Fight Against Violence Moriel McClerklin- United States Coordinator- AFRIDU Keturah Amoaka- Europe Coordinator- SOAD Roy Guevara Arzu- Central America Coordinator- MFPA-AL-CH & AFROAMERIXXI Khazriel Ben Yehuda- Middle East Coordinator- AFRIDU Janet Lumley- Canada Coordinator- SOAD Dr Megan-EzeNwanyi- South America Coordinator- AFRIDU Asia & Oceania Coordinator- TBA Caribbean Coordinator- Holding for CPAN 2 On August 24, 2023 Michael Powers, Director of ALT Advisory and I held a Zoom Consultation after which I submitted the 20-page RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE INCLUSION OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA IN THE AFRICAN UNION’S ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL COUNCIL. 2