SA 'doubles' AU contribution
2006-05-03 22:50
Pretoria - South Africa is to contribute 15% of the African Union's budget for this year, the government announced on Wednesday.
The move, representing a near doubling from last year's 8.25%, was approved by the cabinet in Pretoria.
"This derives from the determination the AU has come to that the contributions of various countries on the continent should amongst others derive from the strength of their economy," government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe told reporters.
"So the contribution of South Africa to the AU has been increasing in line with that criteria."
Netshitenzhe could not say how much money the 15% represented.
He said the cabinet meeting noted a responsibility given by the AU to South Africa and Libya "to look at the restructuring of continental financial institutions and where some of these institutions should be located".
It also noted ongoing negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region.
"The South African government wishes to urge all parties in these negotiations to reach agreement as soon as possible, so as to restore peace and allow the people of that region to lead normal lives."
The cabinet approved the deployment of an extra 98 SA National Defence Force members to the AU mission in the Sudan, in addition to 339 already there.
It was briefed on preparations for a national consultative conference on South Africa's AU-driven peer review process.
The gathering this week would bring together representatives of the government and other sectors of society to consider the work done on compiling a country self-assessment report.
Inputs have so far been received from different sectors of civil society, and citizens themselves.
"The cabinet welcomed the consultative process and the fact that it will lead to broad consensus on progress made and on what we need to improve on," Netshitenzhe said.
- SAPA