Statement by Hon Murray McCully to the African Union Executive Council, Addis Ababa, 26-27 January 2012

Statement by Hon Murray McCully to the African Union Executive Council

Warmest greetings from New Zealand to Ministers and Member States of the African Union Executive Council as you meet to discuss the vital issues affecting the countries of Africa and their relations with the wider international community.

New Zealand followed with great interest the open debate in the UN Security Council this month under the presidency of South Africa on peace and security in Africa and the development of the strategic partnership between the African Union and the United Nations. That the Council has devoted nearly half its meetings over the past 21 years to Africa, and mandated 25 operations, underscores the importance for the entire international community in addressing security issues and conflict prevention on the continent. New Zealand has participated in a number of these as well as addressing a number of the conflicts when it last served on the Council, in 1993-1994.

2012 marks the 110th anniversary of the Battle at Langverwacht in the Free State

In February 1902, late in the South African (Anglo-Boer) War, at Langverwacht (also known as Bothasberg), New Zealanders were at the centre of a Boer attempt to break through the British line.   In the struggle on the night of 23/24 February, 23 members of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Regiment were killed and 40 were wounded.  This was the highest toll for New Zealand of any single encounter during the conflict.

Hon Murray McCully to attend African Union Summit in Ethiopia from 25-26 January 2012

Foreign Minister Murray McCully is visiting Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this week to attend the 20th Session of the African Union Executive Council on 25-26 January. 

Mr McCully said his attendance at the summit provides New Zealand with an opportunity to engage with ministers from nearly all of the 54 African Union states and to convey New Zealand's excellent credentials for United Nations Security Council membership in 2015-16.