Libyan leader Gaddafi with African traditional leaders who named him "King of Kings." Gaddafi was elected as African Union Chairperson at the summit in Ethiopia on February 2, 2009.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
ADDIS ABABA--Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's drive to create a "union government" for all of Africa has instead heightened divisions on the continent, forcing an extension of a summit today to resolve the spat.
The African Union elected Gaddafi to lead the bloc on Monday, despite deep reservations among many members over his call for a "United States of Africa".
But as the 53 members were meant to wind up their three-day summit, the dispute widened as they debated a report on how to reform the continental body.
Gaddafi walked out of the talks without saying anything, and moments later the other leaders left with an agreement to resume debate later in the day.
The summit had already agreed to expand the mandate of the AU Commission and change its name to the AU Authority, but the details of that change appear to be the focus of the dispute.
President Kgalema Motlanthe said in an interview proposals for strengthening the AU would be considered only over the next three months.
"The aim is to strengthen and expand a bit on the functions and responsibilities of the Authority."
"The Executive Council tabled proposals and actually requested to be accorded three months within which to look at the exact nitty-gritty of this AU Authority," he said.
"There is an acceptance that the end goal of the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity and the AU was that Africa would be united. The day will come where there will be a single authority in charge of Africa," Motlanthe said.
During the summit, the tensions with Gaddafi were palpable.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni proposed turning the AU leadership into a troika, which would mitigate Gaddafi's influence in a role that already has little real power.
But leaders like Museveni are reluctant to see Gaddafi become the face of Africa in the international arena.
Countries such as Libya advocate immediate unification, a position Gaddafi says is the only way forward for the war-ravaged and drought-stricken continent.
On the other hand countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia and Kenya seek gradual integration - and seem to have the upper hand at the moment.
Motlanthe said it was too soon to tell how Gaddafi's leadership would affect the AU.
"It's early days and early hours, so it's hard to say. We'll have to see as the year progresses." - Sapa-AFP
Published on the web by Daily News on February 4, 2009.
Libya's Gadhafi Praises Obama, Urges Him To Lead US Boldly
2-4-09 8:21 AM EST
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AFP)--Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi Wednesday lavished uncharacteristic praise on a U.S. leader, describing Barack Obama's accession to the White House as a victory against racism and urging the first black U.S. president to lead his country boldly.
"The black people's struggle has vanquished racism. It was God who created color. Today Obama, a son of Kenya, a son of Africa, has made it in the United States of America," he said.
Gadhafi, who has ruled over Libya for four decades, was speaking at the closing ceremony of an African Union summit in Addis Ababa which saw him take the reins of the 53-nation continental organization.
"We hope he will be well protected and want him to be undaunted. America doesn't belong to the whites alone. I hope he will be able to accomplish the change he carries in him," he said.
Gadhafi's elevation to A.U. chief stirred debate at the summit, with some nations unhappy about the choice. Under A.U. rules, the post rotates among Africa's regions, and this year was set to go to a North African leader. Gadhafi was the only one present.
Over the past decade, Gadhafi has distanced himself from his fellow Arab leaders and turned most of his diplomatic attention to unifying the African continent.
Oil-rich Libya was long considered a state sponsor of terrorism by the U.S.
But in October last year, Libya paid the U.S. $1.5 billion as part of a settlement agreement over the 1988 bombing of an airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, that was the last hurdle to a full normalization of ties with Washington.
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04/02/2009 13:59 ADDIS ABABA, Feb 4 (AFP)
African Union ends summit divided over future
African Union leaders wound up a summit here Wednesday with the continent beset by conflict and divided over new chairman Moamer Kadhafi's plans for unifying its 53 member states.
Closing speeches hailed an agreement to change the name of the body's main executive arm but the Libyan leader's election as the organisation's rotating chairman sparked a debate that led to the summit's extension by a day.
"After earnest efforts toward Africa's unity, we were able to agree on transforming the AU Commission into the AU Authority, which is a very significant step," Kadhafi said.
"We Africans have only unity to gain strength. We live in a ruthless world, where the strong live and the weak are enslaved... I want to tell Africa's youth that the power is theirs and that they should push for African unity."
The veteran Libyan leader's vision for a more aggressive integration of the continent into what he calls the "United States of Africa" was met by deep reservations from some key nations.
Wednesday's closing speeches came after late night drama at the AU's Addis Ababa headquarters, when the maverick Libyan leader walked out on discussions over the future of the organisation.
South African President Kgalema Motlanthe said in a joint interview with AFP and his nation's SABC television on Tuesday that proposals for strengthening the AU would be considered only over the next three months.
"The aim is to strengthen and expand a bit on the functions and responsibilities of the Authority," he said.
During the summit, the tensions with Kadhafi were palpable.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni proposed turning the AU leadership into a troika, which would mitigate Kadhafi's influence in a role that already has little real power.
"Africans are polite, but deserve respect," Museveni told him, according to one participant in the talks.
Kadhafi has long looked at the AU as a way to boost Africa's international profile, but also to increase his own standing and leaders like Museveni are reluctant to see Kadhafi become the face of Africa in the international arena.
Kadhafi seized power in a coup 40 years ago, and his autocratic rule has drawn fierce criticism from rights groups.
He recently had a group of traditional leaders name him the "king of kings" of Africa, and brought an entourage of seven local monarchs dripping in gold jewellery with him to the summit.
Yet, differences remain over how the new system would be implemented.
Countries such as Libya advocate immediate unification, a position Kadhafi says is the only way forward for the war-ravaged and drought-stricken continent.
On the other hand Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia and Kenya seek gradual integration -- and seem to have the upper hand at the moment.
The rift over Africa's unification overshadowed an official agenda focused on infrastructure development.
Many leaders' assessments of the continent's economic future were gloomy during the four-day summit, with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi predicting that "the coming decade or so is likely to be very dark indeed for Africa."
He cited global warming and the world economic downturn, which many AU leaders feared would lead to a slump in trade and cuts in much-needed foreign development aid.
In his closing speech, Kadhafi joined the continent's chorus of praise for US President Barack Obama, the first black man to accede to the White House.
"The black people's struggle has vanquished racism. It was God who created colour. Today Obama, a son of Kenya, a son of Africa, has made it in the United States of America," he said.
"We hope he will be well protected and want him to be undaunted. America doesn't belong to the whites alone. I hope he will be able to accomplish the change he carries in him," Kadhafi added.
The crisis in Zimbabwe and the ongoing unrest in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo were discussed in separate sessions last week.
AFRICAN UNION
UNION AFRICAINE
UNIÃO AFRICANA
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. P. O. Box 3243 Telephone: 5517 700 Fax: 5511299
website: http://www. africa-union.org
DIVISION OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION
PRESS RELEASE N.40 / 2009
12th AU Summit Opens in Addis Ababa Amidst Call for Unity and Solidarity Ahead many Development Challenges in Africa Notably, Infrastructure
Addis Ababa, 2nd February 2009 – The 12th Assembly of Heads of States and Government of the African Union officially kicked off today, Monday 2nd February 2009 at the Conference Centre of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme: “ Infrastructure Development in Africa”, with emphasis on transport and energy sectors.
The Assembly began by observing one minute of silence in memory of H.E. Levy Mwanawasa, former President of the Republic of Zambia and H.E. General Lansana Conte, former President of the Republic of Guinea, who passed away during the year 2008.
The Heads of States then proceeded to officially welcome the new members of their Assembly, H.E. Rupiah Banda, newly elected President of the Republic of Zambia; H.E. Kgalema Motlanthe, new President of the Republic of South Africa; and H.E. Sheikh Sharif Ahmed Said, new President of the Republic of Somalia.
Holding under the chairmanship of H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, outgoing Chairperson of the African Union and President of the United Republic of Tanzania, key speakers at the opening ceremony of the 12 Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union were: Mr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Amr Moussa, Secretary General of the Arab League, and Mr. Mohamed, representative of the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abass.
In his address, Chairperson expressed solidarity and support to the Government of the Republic of Kenya, for the loss of many lives involved in the fire accident that recently occurred in Kenya.
The Chairperson further welcomed all the guests of honour who were attending the AU Summit for the first time, notably, His Royal Highness, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Emir of Dubai, and the newly appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Magistrate Nawanethem Pillay from South Africa, amongst others.
Chairperson Ping expressed gratitude to the Heads of States for theirs continuous support to the AUC leadership in its efforts to achieve its missions for the development of Africa. He further highlighted the different achievements of the Commission in the areas of peace and security; economic and financial crises; conflict resolutions and conflict managements; food security and agriculture, amongst others.
Speaking later, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon said the African Union meets at a critical period in Africa’s search for development in greater peace and security. “ I welcome African countries on-going efforts to perfect their union”. He added.
Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, called on all the African countries to reinforce their strategies and unite to face the many challenges in the continent. He commended the African Union for the efforts done in the area of peace and security, conflict management, food security, climate change, amongst other things, while recalling that much still has to be done to enable Africa attain the millennium development Goals.
Meanwhile, outgoing Chairperson of the African Union, Jakaya Kikwete expressed satisfaction to the tremendous progress made by the African Union during the year 2008, while calling on more commitment by Member States to increase their support to the efforts of the African Union in ensuring the integration of Africa as well as its development.
Meanwhile, the opening session of the Summit was crowed by the election of the next Chairperson of the African Union (AU) in the person of Leader Muammar Gaddafi, Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.
The Libyan Leader will replace outgoing Chairperson of the AU, Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete, at the helm of the affairs of the Union.
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