The Panel of the Wise (PoW) is a consultative body of the African Union, composed of five appointed members who each serve three year terms. Its mandate is to provide opinions to the Peace and Security Council on issues relevant to conflict prevention, management, and resolution. Representatives are chosen for the North, East, South, West, and Central regions of the continent.[1]
The first Panel of the Wise was established in December 2007, with a mandate which expired in 2010. The Assembly of Heads of State and Government, meeting in Kampala in 2010, decided to expand the Panel's composition, by appointing a Group of "Friends of the Panel of the Wise" appointed on the same basis as the Panel (one representative for each African sub-region).
Members of the Panel are chosen by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and approved by the African Union Commission for three year terms, renewable once.[2]
The PoW, when requested by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) or on its own, conducts "such action deemed appropriate to support the efforts of the PSC and those of the Chairperson of the Commission for the prevention of conflicts."
The Panel meets a minimum of three times per year to discuss its work and choose regions or countries it wishes to visit. It also organizes yearly workshops on conflict prevention and management, as well as related issues, in order to help the Panel develop a thematic report that it submits to the Assembly of African Heads of State and Government for its endorsement. Previously produced reports covered topics including non-impunity, women and children in armed conflicts, and electoral disputes.
According to its website, the Panel's mandate is as follows, quoted:
PanWise is a Pan-African network, established through a Decision of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government in May 2013, and which brings together mediation actors and mechanisms, such as the AU Panel of the Wise, COMESA Committee of Elders, ECOWAS Panel of the Elders, SADC Panel of the Wise, future RECs mechanisms, Insiders’ Mediators, African and international mediators working in Africa, with complementary responsibilities.
The aim of PanWise is to strengthen, coordinate and harmonise prevention, early response and peacemaking efforts carried by various actors in Africa under a single umbrella.
Pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (PSC Protocol); the Protocol on Relations between the African Union and Regional Economic Communities; the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Area of Peace and Security between the AU, the RECs and Stand by Brigades of Eastern Africa and Northern Africa (MoU); the Modalities for the Functioning of the Panel of the Wise (AU); and, finally, the experiences and lessons learned as regards cooperation, collaboration and harmonization between the AU Panel of the Wise and its counterparts at sub-regional and national levels, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government at the 21st ordinary session of the AU Summit, which marked the 50th Golden Jubilee of the OAU on 25 May 2013, adopted a decision to establish the “Pan-African Network of the Wise” (PanWise).PanWise is comprised, as core members, of the AU Panel of the Wise/Friends and its existing and future counterparts at sub-regional level including: the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Council of the Wise; the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) Mediation Reference Group and Panel of Elders; the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa’s (COMESA) Committee of Elders; and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development’s (IGAD) Mediation Contact Group, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), East African Community (EAC), Union of Maghreb States (UMA) and the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CENSAD). As associate members, PanWise includes the Forum of Former African Heads of State, the Association African Ombudesmen and Mediators (AAOM), national infrastructures for peace, national mediation councils, etc., as well as relevant African mediation associations/ institutions.When appropriate to the agenda of the PanWise, the AU Chairperson as well as African mediators Special Envoys, Special Representatives, Chief Mediators and their Mediation Teams shall be invited to participate in network activities. The establishment of the “Pan African Network of the Wise” is not prejudicial to the independence of each Panel, the confidentiality required of them as they perform their roles within their respective home organisations, as well their latitude in choosing partners, donors and other stakeholders. In conducting its activities, the “Pan African Network of the Wise” is at all times cognizant that its members may be actively engaged in preventive diplomacy, mediation and related activities with parties engaged in a dispute or conflict, and therefore discretion, respect for confidentiality and careful consultation with members on deliberations is observed. The successful establishment of the PanWise is a significant contribution to the Golden Jubilee of the OAU celebrated this year under the theme “Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance”. Indeed, it emphasizes and puts into practice the ideals of the Forefathers of the OAU, Pan-Africanism, solidarity and unity of purpose.
| North | Amr Moussa | Egypt | former Arab League Secretary-General; former Minister of Foreign Affairs | Member | |
| West | Ellen Johnson Sirleaf | Liberia | former President of Liberia; 2011 Nobel Peace Prize laureate | Member | |
| East | Dr. Specioza Wandira Kazibwe | Uganda | former Vice President of Uganda | Member | |
| Central | Honorine Nzet Bitéghé | Gabon | former Minister of Social Affairs | Member | |
| South | Hifikepunye Pohamba | Namibia | former President of Namibia | Chairperson and Member |
| North | Lakhdar Braimi | Algeria | Member | ||
| West | Dr. Edem Kodjo | Togo | former Prime Minister of Togo; former OAU Secretary-General | Member | |
| East | Dr. Specioza Wandira Kazibwe | Uganda | former Vice President of Uganda | Member | |
| Central | Albina Assis | Angola | former Minister of Petroleum | Member | |
| South | Dr. Luisa Diogo | Mozambique | former Prime Minister of Mozambique | Member and Chairperson |
| North | Ahmed Ben Bella | Algeria | former President of Algeria | Member and Chairperson | |
| West | Mary Chinery Hesse | Ghana | former Deputy Director-General of the International Labour Organization; former Chancellor of the University of Ghana | Member | |
| East | Salim Ahmed Salim | Tanzania | former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity | Member | |
| Central | Marie Madeleine Kala-Ngoy | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Member | ||
| South | Kenneth Kaunda | Zambia | Member |
| Region | Member | Country | Description | Role in Panel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North | Member and Chairperson | ||||
| West | Member | ||||
| East | Salim Ahmed Salim | Member | |||
| Central | Member | ||||
| South | Member |
The current members and friends of the Panel of the Wise, who are the outgoing members of the Panel of the Wise serving from 2010 to 2014, are:
| Region | Member | Country | Description | Role in Panel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North | Member (Chairperson; 2nd & last term), (N.B., deceased, April 2012) | ||||
| West | Member (1st term) | ||||
| East | Salim Ahmed Salim | Member (2nd & last term) | |||
| Central | Member (1st term) | ||||
| South | Member (1st term) | ||||
| North | TBA | Friend | |||
| West | Friend (2nd & last time) | ||||
| East | TBA | Friend | |||
| Central | Friend (2nd & last term) | ||||
| South | Friend (2nd & last term) |