Africa: African Union seeks consensus on Government
Luanda – The African Union is seeking a consensus on the creation of a Union’s Government, said in Luanda the director for Africa and Middle East of the Angolan Foreign Ministry, Nelson Cosme.
Speaking to Angop on the occasion of the Africa’s Day, May 25, the official said a debate is underway, seeking a consensus, in view of existing divergences.
He said there are positions defending an agreement or ratification from states for the transformation of a supra-national structure.
According to the official, there are indications that the process is moving towards an intergovernmental institution, adding that the debate on the issue is still going on.
Nelso Cosme characterised the activity of the continental over three decades as comprising two stages.
He mentioned that the political purpose – the constitution of the Organisation of African Unity (OUA) was accomplished, as well as the liberation of the peoples from colonial rule and attainment of their independences, of which the Western Sahara is left.
To him, there is a component concerning the economic integration and the role the continental institution can play in the prevention and management of conflicts.
The diplomat stated that these two elements have been essential to the current structure of the organisation that is the African Union Commission, with specific programmes to respond to the economic matters and adoption of an architecture capable of responding for the management and prevention of conflicts, namely with the creation of the Peace and Security Council and other structures that did not exist in the past.
Commenting on coup d’Etats in the continent, the Foreign Ministry’s Africa and Middle East director, said the African Union should not accept this way of winning power.
He recalled that in the light of the dispositions contained in the Lome and Alger accords, institutionalised later by the AU, this purpose has been fulfilled, mentioning the example of Mauritania, Guinea Conakry and others whose states ceased to have a seat within the organisation, after they were found to have used violence to win power.
The OAU was created on May 25 1963, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on an initiative by the Ethiopian emperor, Hailé Selassié, through the signing of its constitution by representatives of 32 Governments of African independent countries.
The continental organisation was replaced by the African Union on July 9, 2002.
(portalangop.co.ao)
Tags: Angola