SANF 08 No 05
The African Union has accelerated plans for unification through the establishment of a high-level group of heads of state and government, under the leadership of President Jakaya Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania, who is the new AU chairperson.
The high-level group, made up of Kikwete and President John Kufuor of Ghana as the outgoing AU chairperson, includes 10 other leaders, two from each of the five regions of Africa.
This group was established at the 10th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the end of January.
The high-level group is mandated to study the issues that have hampered progress towards unification, identified by a ministerial committee that presented its report to the Assembly. The new higher level committee is expected to present recommendations on a union government to their colleagues at the next AU Assembly, set for Cairo in July.
The areas of divergence recall the original debates at the founding Summit of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in May 1963 when President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana wanted immediate unification of the few countries that were independent, in a pan-African government.
President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania was equally eloquent in advocating a “brick-by-brick” approach, starting with the pursuance of political independence for the remaining countries under colonial rule or apartheid, including the whole of southern Africa.
It is ironic that the two leaders who handed over the torch in January as incoming and outgoing chairperson of the AU, represent the same two countries.
The new debates arose after the completion of political independence with the end of the apartheid government in South Africa in 1994, thus the achievement of political independence by the OAU and the subsequent establishment of the African Union.
The protagonists this time are the Libyan President, Col. Muammar Gaddafi, insisting on immediate transformation to a United States of Africa, while southern Africa advocates strengthening the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as building blocks.
While the AU is agreed on the movement towards a union government, there are different views on the timing and model of governance.
There are four areas of divergence, focusing essentially on whether to move rapidly to political unity of the continent, or to strengthen regional economic development first, as building blocks.
The timing of the establishment of a union government has two schools of thought. One is the gradual approach from the bottom-up, advocated by eastern and southern Africa, based on the RECs and taking time to build regional economies.
The other school of thought, comprising mostly west African states and Libya, is for a top-down approach starting with the formation of a union government and election of its leader as a matter of urgency, to replace the current AU Commission.
The latter group wants a union president in place with a small cabinet to cover trade, defence and foreign policy; and expansion of the cabinet up to 2015.
In addition to timing, the other sticking point is the model of governance to adopt: a federal model like the United States of America; a coalition of states cooperating in specific areas with clearly defined state sovereignty, similar to the European Union; or a gradual approach that will eventually lead to one continental government.
While this complex issue of the form and timing of African governance was again deferred to committee, the discussions during the three-day Summit were based on the theme of “Industrial Development of Africa,” with emphasis on the need to strengthen national economies by engaging in economic co-operation partnerships.
Other issues addressed included peace resolution and security, climate change, and the role of the youths in African development.
Tanzania’s President Kikwete, elected as the new AU chairperson, pledged to work hard in changing Africa’s current image as a continent stereotyped for civil wars, political turbulence and instability.
“There is a lot of bad news coming from Africa, despite the continent’s enormous resources. It is my hope that we can turn things around. This is the major challenge ahead of us,” Kikwete said.
“Time has come for us to bring about development on the continent. We (African nations) must forge closer unity and have a common voice in dealing with the prevailing unfair global trading and financial framework.”
The selection of Kikwete was anticipated as the rotating presidency had to be taken by an east African nation.
A new chairperson of the AU Commission was appointed to replace Alpha Omar Konare, whose term has expired. The new Chairperson is Jean Ping, the former foreign minister of Gabon.
Seven Commissioners out of the eight portfolios of the AU Commission were also elected.
The new Commissioners are: Peace and Security, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra (Algeria); Political Affairs, Mrs. Julia Dolly Joiner (Gambia); Infrastructure and Energy, Mrs. Elham Mahmood Ahmed Ibrahim (Egypt); Social Affairs, Adv. Bience Philomina Gawanas (Namibia); Human Resources, Science and Technology, Mr. Jean Pierre Onvehoun Ezin (Benin); Trade and Industry, Mrs. Elizabeth Tankeu (Cameroon) and Economic Affairs, Dr. Maxwell Mkwezalamba (Malawi).
The AU Commission also elected nine new members of its Peace and Security Council (PSC): Burundi, Chad, Rwanda, Uganda, Tunisia, Swaziland, Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali.
The PSC in its five years of existence has performed an important and difficult role in dealing with numerous conflicts. The new council was urged to prioritise the protection of civilians and in particular, women and girls in Sudan, Somalia, and the DRC among other countries.
