Johannesburg – African Union (AU) leaders were still locked in a meeting on Monday afternoon as they prepare to announce to the continent their decisions following an intense week of deliberations by delegates at the 25th Summit of the continental body held in Johannesburg.
The first day of the Heads Of State Summit was somehow overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the Sudanese President Omar Albashir. The International Criminal Court wanted the South African government to arrest Bashir who is on its wanted list for alleged war crimes and genocide. Even though the South African government is the signatory to the ICC statute, to act on the court’s request would have been in violation of the AU’s decision on grant prosecution immunity on all sitting Heads of State.
The AU is expected to explain its position on the matter at a final press conference to be conducted by AU chairperson Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and AU Commission Chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Details of how the continent would implement the first 10 years of Agenda 2063 are also expected to be outlined at the briefing scheduled for 5pm.
Agenda 2063 is a blue print adopted at the AU summit in Ethiopia in 2013 and deals with how the continent should learn from the lessons of the past and take advantage of the opportunities available in the short, medium and long term to achieve a prosperous Africa by 2063, a year that will mark 100 years of the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, the precursor of the AU.
A decision on how the AU leaders would respond to the looming political crisis in Burundi are also expected to be communicated as well as other decisions on alternative sources of funding for the AUC.
Burundian President Pierre Nkuruziza, who did not attend the summit at the Sandton Convention Centre, has decided to run for a third presidential term, something that has sparked violent and deadly protests in the capital Bujumbura. The trend by some African leaders to alter constitutions to prolong their stay in power came under scrutiny at the summit with calls for Nkurunzinza to reconsider his position.
The Summit in Johannesburg has also been exploring ways to end the dependence of the AU on foreign donors for its operations and many leaders are keen to bring to an end the fact that 70 percent of the union’s budget is coming from donors. Earlier this week, President Jacob Zuma hosted a fundraising dinner which was preceded by a golf event to raise funds for the AU Foundation.
It’s not clear what other funding methods the leaders had agreed on but it’s believed membership fees by member states are up for review.
Other critical announcements expected this afternoon will include decisions on the African Standby Force, Ebola and the Continental Free Trade Area expected to be operational by 2017. – SAnews.gov.za
