Pretoria — South Africa is to lead an African Union (AU) Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Committee meeting this week.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will depart for Khartoum, Sudan on Sunday ahead of the meeting which takes place from Monday until Wednesday.

The ministerial committee expected to assess progress on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and brief the Sudanese authorities on their assessment of the implementation of the agreement.

Foreign Ministers of Algeria, Gabon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Sudan will all participate as members of the ministerial committee.

Minister Dlamini Zuma will lead the delegation within the context of South Africa position's as Chair of the AU Ministerial Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development in Sudan.

The AU ministerial committee was mandated by the AU Summit of Heads of State and Government in July 2003 to assess the needs and the magnitude of post conflict challenges in Sudan and mobilise African support for post conflict reconstruction and development in Sudan.

It was also requested to sensitise the international community and mobilise their support accordingly.

In June 2004, an African Union Assessment Mission to Sudan identified the following priorities for post conflict reconstruction:

•  The imperative to focus on the needs of vulnerable groups;

•  Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration;

•  Primary health care, including the immunisation of children and maternal health;

•  Support for civil society.

Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to return to South Africa on Wednesday 2 April ahead of the South Africa - Democratic Republic of Congo Bi-National Commission where she will support President Thabo Mbeki.