Hon Speaker, the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises was tabled for consideration by the African Union Commission at the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union held in Addis Ababa last month.
The mechanism is viewed as necessary to correct the constant shortcomings of Africa in responding to crises as rapidly as warranted by situations such as that in Mali. This inability to respond adequately and urgently undermines Africa's principles, decisions and statutes, like the Lom Declaration on Unconstitutional Changes of Government.
The future and role of this immediate mechanism will be determined as and when the African Standby Force's rapid deployment capacity has been operationalised. There is no fixed date as yet. The AU ministers of defence are working on the matter.
The general view of the AU member states is that this should be an African initiative. However, that matter is still being discussed by the AU and specific recommendations will be tabled at the right time. I thank you, hon Speaker. [Applause.]