2 February 2008
Addis Ababa — A commission, comprising 10 Heads of State, outgoing and newly-elected chairpersons of the African Union (AU) Commission, was created Friday, here, during the tenth session of the continental body's assembly to reflect on the controversial issue concerning the setting up of a Union Government.
It was said by Angola's Foreign Minister, João Bernardo de Miranda, who represented President José Eduardo dos Santos, at the Summit.
According to the Cabinet Minister, the mission is mandated to reformulate the proposals drafted by the experts panel that was in charge of the dossier that was submitted to the Executive Council. The ministers will no longer handle this issue, it will be dealt exclusively by the Heads of State.
The newly created commission is made up of two Heads of State from each region of the continent, as well as the outgoing chairperson and the current chairperson and it will be in charge of formulating new proposals that will be submitted at the next Summit of the African Union, slated for next July in Cairo, Egypt.
There have not been defined the Heads of State who will integrate this body, as its composition should include the five regions of the continent (North, Southern, East, West and Central Africa).
It is understood that the Egyptian President, Hosni Moubarak, might be chosen the next chairperson of the African Union, replacing his Tanzanian counterpart, Jakaya Kikwete, who was elected Thursday, in Addis Ababa, for one-year tenure.
However, the deputy Prime-Minister and Foreign minister of Gabon, Jean Ping, was elected, by absolute majority, chairman of African Union (Commission), for a four-year mandate, replacing former Malian president, Alpha Oumar Konare.
On his turn, the Kenyan Franstais Erastus Mwencha was elected deputy chairperson of this body, replacing Rwandan Patrick Mozhimakha.
Reacting to the election of Jean Ping, a candidate supported by the Central African States, including Angola, João Miranda rejoiced at the fact, referring that his great challenge is the reform of the African Union and the implementation of every measure that has been approved so far.
On the sidelines of the AU Summit, the Angolan Foreign minister João Miranda attended a meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Security and Defence Policy Organ.
The organ is chaired by Angola. But, according to João Miranda, at the request of President José Eduardo dos Santos, the works were presided over by the Tanzanian Head of State, Jakaya Kikwete.
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This is a very positive step by the AU which, if it can be realized will change the face and fortune of the continent cosiderably. The president of Lybya, M. Ghadafi, has been pushing for this for a long time and it is hoped that Africans all over the world should fully support this idea for the immense inherent potency to radically change the fortune of the continent.