Sudan signs CAADP Compact
Khartoum-Sudan, July 31, 2013–The Republic of Sudan yesterday become the 32nd African Country to sign the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Compact.
The signing ceremony was officiated by Sudanese Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Hon. Abdelhaleem Ismail Al-Mutaafi, AUC Commissioner for the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, H.E Tumusiime Rhoda Peace and COMESA Secretary General, Sindiso Ngwenya.
A CAADP Compact spells out a County’s priority areas for investment in the agriculture sector agreed upon by stakeholders to address national priorities. It is also meant to define actions, commitments, partnerships and alliances to guide country policy and investment responses.
Dr. Al-Mutaafi, reaffirmed Sudan’s commitment towards CAADP implementation and pledged to mobilize more stakeholders to support the process.
The Sudan CAADP Compact takes into account the country’s Agriculture Revival Propramme (ARP) and the Economic Recovery Programme 2012-2014.
Commissioner Tumusiime, congratulated Sudan for signing the Compact, assuring Sudan that, “This significant step promises sustained economic growth, food and nutrition security in The Sudan,” as CAADP was not only a reaffirmation of commitment by AU Heads of State and Government to the development of Africa, led by sustained investment in agriculture, food and nutrition security, but also envisioned as a fundamental engine of economic growth based on catalysing comprehensive and broad-based public and private sector investment in the entire agricultural value chain.
She further stated that the AUC was cognizant of the high potential of The Sudan to become one of the leading pillars for realizing ‘the African Dream’, taking CAADP to another level and meeting the vision of Africa becoming food-sufficient and a net exporter of agricultural and agro-processed commodities to the rest of the world.
The Sudanese CAADP Compact was signed by Sudanese Ministers of Agriculture and Irrigation, and Finance and National Economy respectively, the AUC, NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency, COMESA, representatives from the Sudanese Farmer’s Union, private sector, civil society and development partners.
ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS BEGIN
Chief Obasanjo and his team started their tour at the Town House polling station in Harare before 07:00, in time to observe the start of the voting process. At the other stations they visited, the team spoke to voters in the queues, polling officers and party agents. Some voters indicated that they had been there since 4 am.
The AU has a total of 26 observer teams comprising 69 people, observing elections throughout the country. Other observer team in Zimbabwe include the Southern African Development Community (SADC) which has 562 observers, COMESA which has 24 observers, Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (INEC) which has a delegation of 8, SADC Parliamentary Forum with 60 observers, SADC Electoral Support Network with 31 observers, SADC Council of NGOs with 150 observers and the SADC Electors Commission which has 25 observers.
As at the time of filing this report, (11:00) the processes at most of the polling stations observed by the AU observer teams were proceeding in an orderly and peaceful manner, said AU Commissioner for Political Affairs and Deputy Head of Mission Dr Aisha Abdullahi.
