Celebrating 50 Years of African Union - Outcome Report

 Celebrating  50  Years  of  African  Union:  Ambassadors  of  AU  Member  States  in  Copenhagen,  

Head  of  African  Department  of  the  Danish  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  Ms  Birgitte  Markussen  and  Ugandan  Speaker  of  Parliament  Ms  Rebecca  Kadaga  

Celebrating  50  Years  of  African  Union  Report  on  commemorations  in  Copenhagen  on  20  October  2013  

Verner  Kristiansen  ApS  

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Introduction  This  note  summarises  the  outcome  of  public  diplomacy  ambitions  to  communicate  the  message  of  Pan-­‐Africanism  and  African  Renaissance  to  the  Danish  public  making  the  50th  anniversary  of  the  African  Union  the  point  of  departure  for  a  cultural  programme  involving  members  of  the  African  community  as  well  as  the  Danish  public.      Celebrations  took  place  in  Copenhagen  on  Sunday  20  October  2013  on  the  eve  of  a  Global  Green  Growth  Forum  attracting  notabilities  including  the  Chairman  of  the  African  Union  H  E  Hailemariam  Desalegn  of  Ethiopia  and  the  Chairman  of  the  African  Development  Bank  Mr  Donald  Kaberuka.  Celebrations  were  hosted  by  embassies  of  AU  member  states  in  Copenhagen  with  financial  support  from  the  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  of  Demark  and  organisational  support  from  development  advisors  Verner  Kristiansen  ApS.    

 Ambassador  of  Burkina  Faso,  H  E  Monique  Ilboudo  welcomes  reception  guests  in  the  

Ceremonial  Hall  at  the  National  Museum  of  Denmark  

Programme  elements  The  programme  was  developed  jointly  with  the  group  of  ambassadors  from  AU  member  states  in  Copenhagen  and  included  three  elements  of  a)  Friendly  football  match  –  an  AU-­‐EU  ‘Battle  of  unions’,  b)  Reception  with  historical  exhibition  and  musical  entertainment,  and  finally  c)  Film  screening,  described  below.  The  programme  for  the  event  is  annexed  this  note.      

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A:  Friendly  ‘Battle  of  unions’  The  first  element  of  the  celebration  was  an  untraditional  public  diplomacy  event  in  the  form  of  a  friendly  football  match  between  diplomatic  staff  of  embassies  of  AU  and  EU  member  states  in  Copenhagen.  Male  and  female  staff  from  all  embassies  of  AU  and  EU  member  states  was  encouraged  to  participate.    

   While  one  female  from  the  Ugandan  Embassy  was  registered  to  participate,  on  the  day,  nine  male  players  made  up  the  AU  team,  representing  embassies  of  Uganda,  Burkina  Faso  and  Cote  d’Ivoire.  The  EU  team  was  composed  of  seven  male  players  from  embassies  of  Germany,  UK,  Cyprus  and  the  Danish  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs.        

   The  match,  while  intense,  was  conducted  in  a  friendly  manner  and  supervised  by  referee  Ken  Foltmar  from  the  national  football  association  (DBU).  About  50  enthusiastic  spectators  ensured  a  positive  and  vibrant  atmosphere  during  the  game.  Gold  medals  were  presented  to  the  EU  team  by  H  E  the  Ambassador  of  South  Africa  and  silver  medals  to  the  AU  team  by  H  E  the  Algerian  Ambassador.    

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B:  Reception  with  cultural  programme  The  second  element  was  a  networking  reception,  held  in  the  Ceremonial  Hall  (Festsalen)  of  the  National  Museum.  The  reception  was  opened  by  a  short  introduction  by  moderator  of  the  day,  Mr  Verner  Kristiansen,  followed  by  a  welcoming  speech  by  H  E  Ambassador  Monique  Ilboudo  of  Burkina  Faso  and  words  of  congratulation  by  Head  of  the  Africa  Department  of  the  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  of  Denmark  Ms  Birgitte  Markussen.      Participants  were  then  allowed  half  an  hour  for  informal  networking  and  inspection  of  the  photo  exhibition  ‘From  OAU  to  AU’  provided  by  the  Algerian  Embassy  and  including  articles  from  the  Danish  press  from  1963  covering  events  in  Addis  Ababa  through  a  Danish  lens.      A  musical  performance  followed  by  acclaimed  Gambian  Kora  player  Dawda  Jobarteh  before  the  final  speech  of  the  day  by  celebrated  Danish  film  producer  Vibeke  Windeløv  introduced  the  topic  of  African  cinematography.    

 Moderator  Verner  Kristiansen  provides  a  programme  overview  

 An  overwhelming  number  of  218  people  had  signed  up  for  the  event  through  the  customised  registration  link  in  the  publicity  material.  An  estimated  180  persons  participated  in  the  reception,  the  vast  majority  of  who  stayed  for  the  full  duration  of  the  reception.      Participants  included  a  broad  spectrum  of  categories  ranging  from  members  of  the  diplomatic  corps  over  Danish  civil  society  organisations  to  representatives  of  research  institutions  and  interested  members  of  the  general  public,  including  a  few  museum  guests  who  happened  to  pass  by.    

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C:  Film  screening  The  third  and  final  programme  element  of  the  celebration  was  the  screening  of  African  short  films  and  presentation  of  the  upcoming  Afrowood  Film  Festival  (AFF)  scheduled  to  take  place  in  Copenhagen  on  29-­‐30  November  2013.        

 South  African  Ambassador  H  E  Samkelisiwe  Mhlanga  in  conversation  with  

celebrated  film  producer  Vibeke  Windeløv  during  the  reception      Two  short  films  selected  by  the  group  of  embassies  of  AU  member  states  in  Copenhagen,  One  more  vote  for  Obama  by  Mama  Keita  of  Guinea  Conakry  and  2000  Generation  Africa  by  Gaston  Kabore  of  Burkina  Faso,  opened  the  screening  session.      Then  followed  the  presentation  of  the  Afrowood  Film  Festival  by  principal  organiser  Mr  Chrislan  Treasure  in  an  interview  with  Mr  Verner  Kristiansen,  before  clips  from  four  films  to  be  screened  at  the  festival  were  presented.  Approximately  70-­‐80  participants  took  part  in  the  film  screening.        

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Publicity  In  line  with  the  publicity  plan  prepared  for  the  event,  a  number  of  media  institutions  were  contacted  with  a  view  to  increase  awareness  and  have  the  celebration  covered  in  newspapers,  TV  and  magazine  articles.  Selection  of  contacted  media  was  based  on  a  media  search  of  previous  coverage  of  the  AU  anniversary  and  an  assessment  of  potential  interest,  and  included  Ritzau,  Dagbladet  Information,  Berlingske,  Magasinet  Udvikling  ,  Mellemfolkeligt  Samvirke  Newsletter,  Danmarks  Radio,  and  TV  2  Lorry.      While  these  efforts  did  not  lead  to  coverage  of  the  event,  partly  due  to  the  event  taking  place  on  the  last  Sunday  of  the  school  autumn  break,  the  event  was  successfully  announced  in  calendars  and  news  sections  on  a  number  of  different  websites,  increasing  awareness  as  well  as  participation  on  the  day.  Websites  announcing  the  celebration  included:    

• www.um.dk  (MFA  of  Denmark)  • www.ulandsnyt.dk  (U-­‐landsnyt)  • www.cku.dk  (Centre  for  Culture  and  Development)  • www.ngoforum.dk  (NGO  Forum)  • www.facebook.com/nationalmuseet    (Facebook  profile)  • www.crawfurd.dk/africa/denmark/index.php  (Africa  in  Denmark)  

 Furthermore,  targeted  invitations  were  sent  to  a  number  of  selected  individuals  with  known  interest  in  development  issues  in  general  and  African  Union  affairs  in  particular.  A  list  of  218  registered  participants  is  considered  very  satisfactory  for  an  event  of  the  character.      A  full  list  of  registrations  is  annexed  this  note  

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Annex  A  –  Programme  

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Annex  B  –  List  of  registrations  First name Last name Organisation

Verner Kristiansen Verner Kristiansen ApS Rune Lamberth Verner Kristiansen ApS Crawfurd Jacob Crawfurd Media Mante Makauskaite Centre of African Studies Anne Grete Camara Børn uden Grænser Jo Camara Brn uden Grænser

Jevgenija Kovaliova Center of African studies student, the M.A.D. project founder

Ann Langwadt University of Copenhagen

Sascha Klocke Centre of African Studies, Københavns Universitet

Christian Hundahl Cecilia Kleimert Davis Emmanuel TANDEN Maj Manczak WWF David kendal UM Djamal Boussari Alliance Benin Denmark Riziki Babingwa Vad film production Lene Christensen Petra Bujtás CAS, University of Copenhagen Sune Christensen Student at CAS Feridah Rose Preben Elhøj Tidligere MONUC Lærke Ackrey Pedersen Steen Pedersen DANTAN Sofie Johansen none Aisha Lolila Jensen NNN Gavin Shepherd CAS, Copenhagen University Camilla Østbirk BØRNEfonden Nikolaj Harris UM Jonas Schwarz Lausten Seismonaut Ulla Dreisler Private Povl Anker Andersen Globale Seniorer Eddie Kool Ngobi Busoga Cultural Heritage Trust N. Fatou Ndiaye Netværk for indvandrere i Gladsaxe Hans-H. Christensen Christensen&co. Birgitte Markussen Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs GUSTAVO LOPEZ VERDENSKULTURCENTRET Tambwe Tumba Tanden Erik Buch Procida Danish Commercial Center Nigeria Kjeld Aakjær FN-forbundet Mette Sofie Bovin Anthropologist 24 years in West Africa Alfred Tamakloe &Guest Radio Vesterbro Mzi Sipamla South African need I say more lol Jevgenija Kovaliova CAS student Kamal ahamada http://themadproject.wordpress.com/ Kristian Lund Kofoed Radikale Venstre Sira Støhrmann DJØF Connie Dupont IBIS

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HASSE FERROLD INTERNATIONAL CLUB COPENHAGEN & PRESS

bafiogo adama les voix du sable et des glaces Zydrune Vaskeviciene Lithuanian Embassy abdi ibrahim somaliland/dansk venskab

Ibrahim Grada The Consulate General of Libya in Copenhagen

H.E. Mr. Abdelhamid Boubazine Algerian Embassy Mohamed Boukerch Algerian Embassy Amira Aouachria Algerian Embassy Laoucine Chabane Algerian Embassy Mouloud Kadem Algerian Embassy Youcef Amrani Algerian Embassy Salim Benmekki Algerian Embassy Feodora Af Rosenborg Algerian Embassy Larbi Charef Algerian Embassy Edgar Calba Algerian Embassy Soo Anna Loldrup Krusegaard Algerian Embassy Kadi Pussak Københavns Kommune Laura Kirkegaard AIDS-Fondet Karina Seiffert Ane Djørup

Line Kvalheim Masterstudent Center for African studies University of Copenhagen

Kaja Laane Estonian Embassy Santino David Okwera Danish Uganda Friendship Demetris Embassy of Cyprus Mohamed Rahba Algerian Embassy

Bierlich Bernard (Dr.) International Health Dialogue - consultant of global health

Johanna Hood (+2) RUC Monica Mahona DANTAN Jette Jensen DANTAN H.E. Bomer Pasaribu Indonesian Embassy Sari Ena Lubis Indonesian Embassy Sarah Osman Hayah Strategies Farouk Hirzalla United Nations Adrian Hughes Danmarks Radio Fumie Arimizu UNOPS Jacques Matthiessen Passepartout Theatre Production Belinda Vrapi Unops YU HUANG UNOPS Vivian Cintron UNOPS Eftychia Kalogeraki UNOPS Esther Asinde Uganda Embassy Taniele Gofers UNOPS Lasse Bach Andersen Copenhagen Business School Meddie Muganga Uganda Embassy Danny Ssozi Uganda Embassy Wycliff Kiwanuka Uganda Embassy Steen Cadan Imternational journalist Iona Eberle

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Chrislan Manengs Afrowood Film Festival Lawrence sheyi BTiTV Solution Stephen King Afrowood Film Festival Monique Ilboudo Embassy of Burkina Faso Flavien William Nezien Embassy of Burkina Faso Martine Eliane Ouedraogo Embassy of Burkina Faso Jeanne Marie Balkoulga Embassy of Burkina Faso Manli Prosper Embassy of Burkina Faso Gasuguru Nicole Embassy of Burkina Faso Marie Louise Christiansen Embassy of Burkina Faso Ramata Yonaba Embassy of Burkina Faso Francis Ouderaogo Embassy of Burkina Faso Evariste Da Embassy of Burkina Faso Denis Kabore Embassy of Burkina Faso Ulla Gjedde Algerian Embassy Agea Peters Go-Deos DUFA Christina Yum Deloitte Andrew Julius Bende RISE Denmark Claudette Ouedraogo Embassy of Burkina Faso Idrissa Nikiema Embassy of Burkina Faso Luc Ouderaogo Embassy of Burkina Faso Serge Patrick Yedou Nordic Agenda Consulting Kabibi Luneno AIDS-foundation Brenda Paustian Ea Nedergaard African Studies, University of Copenhagen Victor Bennett African Upliftment Program / AUP Bianca Andersen Ernst-Peter Brezovsky Austrian Embassy Ellen Buch-Hansen Globale Seniorer Mogens Vincent Christensen Vatican Emine Christensen Vatican Julie Damgaard U-landsnyt.dk Bo Svanborg Frontiers ApS Mina Balde Laurent Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire Sylvie Maury French Institute Jean Baptiste Kabre Embassy of Burkina Faso Sibiri Joseph Siguibeogo Embassy of Burkina Faso Jan Laugesen Centre for African Studies Mette Bovin Moesgård Museum, E.S. Abderrezak Kherrouba Algerian Embassy Ambassador Samkelisiwe Mhlanga South African Embassy Machiel Van Niekerk South African Embassy Volkanaud N'Guessan Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire Lath Abion Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire Gérard Kouame Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire - Diabagate Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire Eva Sonne-Schmidt Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire Madina Traore Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire Loua Kante Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire Mamadou Coulibaly Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire Virginie Coulibaly Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire

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Arsène Mahan Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire Clémènce Guei Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire Justin Koudou Embassy of Côte d'Ivoire Ambassador Samkelisiwe Mhlanga South African Embassy Michael Quintas South African Embassy René Renard FOF Gentofte Linda Luecke RUC Anne Marie Boile Nielsen Soroptimist International, DK-Union Ane Scheel UNOPS Dennis Kristensen UNDP Jagna Kochems RUC Samuel Alli Afroscandic SEBASTIEN DURAND EMBASSY OF BENIN NORBERT TITTY EMBASSY OF BENIN Patrick Gbèdolo AKELE EMBASSY OF BENIN Bénéditte M'PO SENA ACHIGAN EMBASSY OF BENIN Richard SOUNOU EMBASSY OF BENIN Adline Isiji Petra Bujtas University of Copenhagen Maria Milagro Badano Giugni University of Copenhagen Assetou & Lars Ghristensen Freind of Amb. Burkina Faso Andersen Rose Support African child Hanna Ohm Cleaver Ministry of Foreign Affairs damata konate Hans von Schroeder German Embassy Camilla von Schroeder German Embassy Pamela Mary Kasembo Louis Roskilde University Maj Manczak WWF Verdennaturfonden knud vilby Thierry Robert French Embassy/Institut français Mohammed Najjari Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco Prosper Sai EMBASSY OF BENIN Rene nouque Afrowood Film Festival Jane Nabachwa Uganda Embassy Søren Pallisgaard Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Kim Belmark Politikens lokalaviser

Ahmed Msellati The Consulate General of Libya in Copenhagen

Abdelmanam Amnaisi The Consulate General of Libya in Copenhagen

Eva Olsen Austrian Embassy Rutger Kremers Copenhagen University Louise Ekelun Ambassade du Burkina Faso Camilla Ekelund Ekelun Ambassade du Burkina Faso Katrine Ekelund Ambassade du Burkina Faso Lars Ekenlund Ambassade du Burkina Faso komlan amehame privat THYMEE NDOUR UNOPS PIERRE-EMMANUEL BILLET Susse Bøtefyhr Rune Persson Ulrik Gade Husted

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Adolph Addison Afroscandic Magazine Constantine Carluen Care Riikka Jalasvirta UNOPS Andrew Madsen CanDan Consulting Services Charlotte Gloerfelt-Tarp Nordekon ApS Katja Schulz UNOPS apollo kaneene copenhagen university DORTHE kildedal freedom warriors apollo kaneene copenhagen university teddy kaneene copenhagen university Jan Laugesen Centre for African Studies, KU Mathias Søgaard Independent Abba Malainin Polisario ( Western Sahara) Søren Vester Haldrup Danish Institute for International Studies Joseph Camara Børn uden Grænser Gavin Shepherd KU Kotima Einlykke Sofiya Oshchebska UNOPS Tommaso Calistri virginiah wanjiru Ana Guerrero WHO Olivier Zongo Burkina Faso