BuaNews (Tshwane)
Bathandwa Mbola
6 July 2009
Sirte — The establishment of an African Union Authority is a step closer towards the dream of the African union government, says Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping.
Continental leaders agreed to create the authority during the 13th African Union (AU) Summit in Libya, Sirte, last week.
It is said to be the starting point for the establishment of the United States of Africa, where countries will have a single African military force, a single currency and a single passport for Africans to move freely around the continent.
"It is impossible to ignore 53 countries with almost one billion inhabitants speaking in one voice," said Mr Ping, adding that the AU was a clear manifestation of the continent's collective demand for standing together and addressing problems in concert.
Plans for an African government got centre stage at the 12th summit of African Heads of State and Government held in Addis Ababa in February.
Countries raised their reservations over its establishment as they felt they did not want to lose their own sovereignty.
However, Mr Ping said that the authority was expected to protect the sovereignty of states rather than reduce their independence.
He said the authority would ensure that peace and security was maintained in the member states.
"Regional peace and security is also an essential foundation for the authority. It will coordinate, harmonise and provide guidance in the continent's economic and social development and physical integration."
Regarding the size of the authority, Mr Ping said it would have its own president, vice-president, chairperson and their deputies.
There will be eight commissioners employed to cover various jurisdictions such as poverty reduction, free movement of goods and services, interregional commerce, climate change, soil erosion, epidemics and pandemics, research and universities, transnational crime and foreign affairs that will involve developing common positions on international matters.
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