AFRICAN NEWS            

THE 15^TH ANNUAL SUMMIT OF THE AFRICAN UNION

Hadiza Wada, DBA ...July 31, 2010

Heads of governments from more than 49 countries converged at Kampala, the capital of Uganda for a summit which took place from July 19 - 27.  Though the theme was maternal and child health, the summit discussed many issues and consequently issued a communiqué where some major decisions were highlighted.  For example on the issue of security, the communiqué says “the Assembly welcomes the efforts deployed by the AU and the Regional Economic Communities for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution (RECs/RMs), with the support of the international community, towards the full implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture, in particular the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) and the African Standby Force (ASF).”

Another major issue the summit dwelt on was Somalia.  A week from the summit, the Al-Shabab were reported to have claimed responsibility for a double (twin) bombing attack of Ugandans who were at that time watching the world cup finals. The attack brought rare attention to Uganda, with the Foreign Minister of Uganda announcing as state leaders arrive from different countries, that he was glad the aim of the attackers i.e. (disrupting the summit) has failed.

The summit rose with a credible agreement to support the Transitional National Government of Somalia. The Assembly once again called on the larger international community and the United Nations Security Council, to act dutifully and quickly, in transforming AMISOM into a United Nations Peace Mission, and also mobilize resources commensurate with the magnitude of the challenges facing Somalia and the region.  It also resolved to add an additional 2,000 peace keeping troops to Somalia.  Uganda and Burundi at present contribute the greatest amount of peacekeepers, a total of about 5500 peacekeeping troops under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), helping President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed’s Transitional Federal Government to stabilize the country.

Other conflicts were also discussed with specific resolutions aimed at curbing them.  It includes Eritrea and Ethiopia, Chad and Sudan.  The summit commended the recent peace moves between Sudan and Chad encouraging the leaders to follow that peaceful path.  Finally the resolution also enacted further steps aimed at attaining resolution of issues of “Maternal and Child Health.”  That was in fact the theme of the summit.  Remedies were in line with the articulated Millennium Development Goals adopted in the past by the Union.  Various women and health groups were represented at the summit

Earlier on, the news was overshadowed by the non appearance of the Egyptian leader at the summit, with speculations that he was sick, but his government issued a denial.  Uganda was endorsed to host the 2010 summit during the 11th AU Summit that took place in Egypt, July 2008.

(c) The Optimist Voice. All Rights Reserved for original articles by this publication. Rights to other articles are solely those of the writers, so also the opinion expressed belong to the writers so titled.