The Maputo Convention on Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources was formally adopted by the AU in July 2003. The Maputo Convention replaced the Algiers Convention of 1968 on the same topic. The Convention will enter into force 30 days after 15 states have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. The Convention’s key objectives, under article II, are to: enhance environmental protection; foster the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources; and harmonise and coordinate policies in these fields with a view to achieving ecologically rational, economically sound and socially acceptable development policies and programmes. The Maputo Convention contains stronger institutional tools than the Algiers Convention and is designed to ensure its implementation. Article 16 of the Convention provides for the Conference of States Parties to meet at least every two years. The AU Commission’s Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture currently acts as the Convention Secretariat. As of March 2013, 31 Member States had ratified the Algiers Convention and, as of October 2013, 10 had ratified the Maputo Convention (www.au.int/en/treaties). The Member States that have ratified the Maputo Convention are: Burundi Comoros Côte d’Ivoire Ghana
Lesotho Libya Mali
Niger Rwanda South Africa
African Energy Commission (AFREC) 02 Rue Chenoua BP 791 Hydra 16035 Algiers Algeria
Tel: (+213 21) 694 868 Fax: (+213 21) 692 083 Email: afrec@africa-union.org or afrienergy@yahoo.com
Internet: http://afrec-energy.org Executive Director: Hussein Elhag
The African Energy Commission (AFREC) is an AU Commission technical agency. It is responsible for supporting the African energy sector’s functions of developing and managing energy resources across Africa. AFREC was established by the Convention of the African Energy Commission, which was adopted by the July 2001 OAU Summit in Lusaka, Zambia. The Convention entered into force on 13 December 2006. The African Electrotechnical Standardization Commission (AFSEC), an AFREC subsidiary based in Pretoria, was launched in February 2008. AFREC’s mandate is to promote cooperation, research and development on energy issues as well as supporting integration, harmonisation and resource mobilisation for energy programmes. As of November 2012, 32 Member States had ratified the Convention (AFREC, September 2013): Algeria Angola Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Comoros
Congo Côte d’Ivoire Egypt Ethiopia Gabon Gambia
Ghana Guinea Kenya Libya Mali Mauritius
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Other Bodies Related to the AU
Secretariat to the African Convention on Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (Maputo Convention)