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African Union Conference Center and Office Complex

February 12, 2023

The African Union Conference Center and Office Complex (AUCC) is a building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is the headquarters of the African Union and plays host to the biannual AU summits. It also serves as a conference center for African and diaspora businesses.[1] The main building is 99.9 m (328 ft) tall[2] and it is the second tallest building in Addis Ababa. Its cost was US$200 million, and it was mainly funded by the Chinese government.[3]

African Union Conference Center and Office Complex
Alternative namesAfrican Union Headquarters
General information
LocationAddis Ababa, Ethiopia
Coordinates09°00′00″N 38°44′39″E / 9.00000°N 38.74417°E / 9.00000; 38.74417Coordinates: 09°00′00″N 38°44′39″E / 9.00000°N 38.74417°E / 9.00000; 38.74417
Current tenantsSeat of the African Union
Construction started2009
Completed2012
Inaugurated28 January 2012
Cost$200 million
Height99.9 m (328 ft)
Technical details
Floor area112,000 m2 (1,210,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)China Architecture and Design Research Group
Other designersTongji University
Main contractorChina State Construction Engineering

Construction

 
The main hall of the AUCC. The wooden veneer on the walls was imported from China.[4]

The main building was designed and built by a collaboration of Tongji University, China State Construction Engineering and the China Architecture and Design Research Group, with the US$200 million budget donated by the Chinese government.[3] The design of the site resembles two hands in embrace, symbolising Africa–China relations,[2] and includes both traditional African art and modern pan-African symbology, with the height of the 99.9 m (328 ft) main tower a reference to the adoption of the Sirte Declaration founding the African Union on 9 September 1999.[4] However, the majority of materials used in the construction were Chinese, and the art on the walls was produced in China.[4] Construction took three years with a workforce of 1,200, roughly half of whom were Ethiopian and half of whom were Chinese.[4] The building was inaugurated on 28 January 2012.[3]

The headquarters of the AU Peace and Security Council, part of the AUCC compound, were built separately as a €30 million gift from the German government, under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, and opened in October 2016.[5] Unlike the main AUCC building, the Peace and Security Building was constructed by Ethiopian contractors using local materials.[4]

The AUCC is built on the site of the former Alem Bekagn prison, used during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, and subsequently by Haile Selassie and Mengistu Haile Mariam to house political prisoners. The decision to construct the AU headquarters on this former prison grounds was criticized by survivors, as they were disappointed by the AU's lack of acknowledgement of the torture used on the site.[4]

Facilities

 
The office tower of the AUCC

The headquarters comprise a 20-story office building, housing the administrative departments of the African Union Commission; a 2,505-person-capacity plenary chamber; and a sub-conference building with 32 conference rooms.[2] Both the AUCC and the Peace and Security Building are designed to be environmentally-friendly, using passive cooling to control the buildings' climates in the heat of Addis Ababa without high energy consumption.[2][5] The complex also contains the African Union Grand Hotel, funded by the Ethiopian-Saudi billionaire Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi and managed by Westin, which is primarily for hosting presidents and diplomats during AU summits.[6]

Espionage allegations

Further information: 2018 China-African Union espionage allegations

In January 2018, six years after the opening of the AUCC, a report in the African edition of Le Monde, confirmed by the Financial Times, claimed that the AU's IT department had discovered in early 2017 that the site's computer systems were connecting nightly to servers in Shanghai and uploading AU files as well as recordings from microphones embedded in the walls and furniture.[7][8] The building's computer system was subsequently removed and the AU refused a Chinese offer to configure the replacement system. Le Monde alleged that the AU had then covered up the hack to protect Chinese interests in the continent.[7][8]

Huawei denied any claims of impropriety.[9] The Chinese government denied that they bugged the building, with China's ambassador to the AU, Kuang Weilin, calling the article "ridiculous and preposterous" and that the allegations were intended to put pressure between Beijing and the continent.[10][11] Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said that he did not believe the French media report.[12] Moussa Faki Mahamat, head of the African Union Commission, said the allegations in the Le Monde's report were false. "These are totally false allegations and I believe that we are completely disregarding them."[13] Incoming Chairperson of the African Union Paul Kagame said he did not know anything about it.[11] Following the allegations, the African Union signed a further Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)s to expand their technology partnership with Huawei in February 2022.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "AUCCC". African Union. 31 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Li Lianxing (26 November 2011). "New AU headquarters passes initial inspection". China Daily. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "African Union opens Chinese-funded HQ in Ethiopia". BBC News Online. BBC. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Grove, Sophie (April 2012). "Special Relations". Monocle. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b Off, Manfred (March 2017). "A building for peace and security". Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  6. ^ . AddisBiz. 15 March 2015. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  7. ^ a b Tilouine, Joan; Kadiri, Ghalia (26 January 2018). "A Addis-Abeba, le siège de l'Union africaine espionné par Pékin". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  8. ^ a b Aglionby, John; Feng, Emily; Yang, Yuan (29 January 2018). "African Union accuses China of hacking headquarters". Financial Times. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  9. ^ a b Solomon, Salem (6 June 2019). "After Allegations of Spying, African Union Renews Huawei Alliance". Voice of America. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  10. ^ "China dismisses absurd African Union HQ spying claim". Africa. BBC News. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  11. ^ a b "China rejects claim it bugged headquarters it built for African Union". The Guardian. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  12. ^ "AU spying report absurd: China". enca.com. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  13. ^ Blanchard, Ben (8 February 2018). "African Union says has no secret dossiers after China spying report". Reuters. Retrieved 21 March 2018.

External link

Official website

February 12, 2023
african, union, conference, center, office, complex, aucc, building, addis, ababa, ethiopia, headquarters, african, union, plays, host, biannual, summits, also, serves, conference, center, african, diaspora, businesses, main, building, tall, second, tallest, b. The African Union Conference Center and Office Complex AUCC is a building in Addis Ababa Ethiopia It is the headquarters of the African Union and plays host to the biannual AU summits It also serves as a conference center for African and diaspora businesses 1 The main building is 99 9 m 328 ft tall 2 and it is the second tallest building in Addis Ababa Its cost was US 200 million and it was mainly funded by the Chinese government 3 African Union Conference Center and Office ComplexAlternative namesAfrican Union HeadquartersGeneral informationLocationAddis Ababa EthiopiaCoordinates09 00 00 N 38 44 39 E 9 00000 N 38 74417 E 9 00000 38 74417 Coordinates 09 00 00 N 38 44 39 E 9 00000 N 38 74417 E 9 00000 38 74417Current tenantsSeat of the African UnionConstruction started2009Completed2012Inaugurated28 January 2012Cost 200 millionHeight99 9 m 328 ft Technical detailsFloor area112 000 m2 1 210 000 sq ft Design and constructionArchitect s China Architecture and Design Research GroupOther designersTongji UniversityMain contractorChina State Construction Engineering Contents 1 Construction 2 Facilities 3 Espionage allegations 4 See also 5 References 6 External linkConstruction Edit The main hall of the AUCC The wooden veneer on the walls was imported from China 4 The main building was designed and built by a collaboration of Tongji University China State Construction Engineering and the China Architecture and Design Research Group with the US 200 million budget donated by the Chinese government 3 The design of the site resembles two hands in embrace symbolising Africa China relations 2 and includes both traditional African art and modern pan African symbology with the height of the 99 9 m 328 ft main tower a reference to the adoption of the Sirte Declaration founding the African Union on 9 September 1999 4 However the majority of materials used in the construction were Chinese and the art on the walls was produced in China 4 Construction took three years with a workforce of 1 200 roughly half of whom were Ethiopian and half of whom were Chinese 4 The building was inaugurated on 28 January 2012 3 The headquarters of the AU Peace and Security Council part of the AUCC compound were built separately as a 30 million gift from the German government under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit and opened in October 2016 5 Unlike the main AUCC building the Peace and Security Building was constructed by Ethiopian contractors using local materials 4 The AUCC is built on the site of the former Alem Bekagn prison used during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia and subsequently by Haile Selassie and Mengistu Haile Mariam to house political prisoners The decision to construct the AU headquarters on this former prison grounds was criticized by survivors as they were disappointed by the AU s lack of acknowledgement of the torture used on the site 4 Facilities Edit The office tower of the AUCC The headquarters comprise a 20 story office building housing the administrative departments of the African Union Commission a 2 505 person capacity plenary chamber and a sub conference building with 32 conference rooms 2 Both the AUCC and the Peace and Security Building are designed to be environmentally friendly using passive cooling to control the buildings climates in the heat of Addis Ababa without high energy consumption 2 5 The complex also contains the African Union Grand Hotel funded by the Ethiopian Saudi billionaire Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi and managed by Westin which is primarily for hosting presidents and diplomats during AU summits 6 Espionage allegations EditFurther information 2018 China African Union espionage allegations In January 2018 six years after the opening of the AUCC a report in the African edition of Le Monde confirmed by the Financial Times claimed that the AU s IT department had discovered in early 2017 that the site s computer systems were connecting nightly to servers in Shanghai and uploading AU files as well as recordings from microphones embedded in the walls and furniture 7 8 The building s computer system was subsequently removed and the AU refused a Chinese offer to configure the replacement system Le Monde alleged that the AU had then covered up the hack to protect Chinese interests in the continent 7 8 Huawei denied any claims of impropriety 9 The Chinese government denied that they bugged the building with China s ambassador to the AU Kuang Weilin calling the article ridiculous and preposterous and that the allegations were intended to put pressure between Beijing and the continent 10 11 Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said that he did not believe the French media report 12 Moussa Faki Mahamat head of the African Union Commission said the allegations in the Le Monde s report were false These are totally false allegations and I believe that we are completely disregarding them 13 Incoming Chairperson of the African Union Paul Kagame said he did not know anything about it 11 Following the allegations the African Union signed a further Memorandum of Understanding MOU s to expand their technology partnership with Huawei in February 2022 9 See also EditForeign relations of the African Union Sino African relations Africa Hall permanent headquarters of UNECA in Addis Ababa Europa building seat of the European Council and Council of the European Union Headquarters of the United Nations Palace of Nations former seat of the League of NationsReferences Edit AUCCC African Union 31 January 2018 a b c d Li Lianxing 26 November 2011 New AU headquarters passes initial inspection China Daily Retrieved 19 July 2012 a b c African Union opens Chinese funded HQ in Ethiopia BBC News Online BBC 28 January 2012 Retrieved 19 July 2012 a b c d e f Grove Sophie April 2012 Special Relations Monocle Retrieved 31 January 2018 a b Off Manfred March 2017 A building for peace and security Retrieved 31 January 2018 7 Star Hotel managed by Westin Hotels and Resorts being constructed in the African Union AU compound Addis Ababa AddisBiz 15 March 2015 Archived from the original on 31 January 2018 Retrieved 31 January 2018 a b Tilouine Joan Kadiri Ghalia 26 January 2018 A Addis Abeba le siege de l Union africaine espionne par Pekin Le Monde in French Retrieved 31 January 2018 a b Aglionby John Feng Emily Yang Yuan 29 January 2018 African Union accuses China of hacking headquarters Financial Times Retrieved 31 January 2018 a b Solomon Salem 6 June 2019 After Allegations of Spying African Union Renews Huawei Alliance Voice of America Retrieved 1 December 2022 China dismisses absurd African Union HQ spying claim Africa BBC News 29 January 2018 Retrieved 1 December 2022 a b China rejects claim it bugged headquarters it built for African Union The Guardian 30 January 2018 Retrieved 31 January 2018 AU spying report absurd China enca com Retrieved 21 March 2018 Blanchard Ben 8 February 2018 African Union says has no secret dossiers after China spying report Reuters Retrieved 21 March 2018 External link EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title African Union Conference Center and Office Complex amp oldid 1138887870, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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