Last week, the African Union (AU) held its 12th summit. The summit’s main agenda – to boost Africa’s energy and transport networks – was largely overshadowed by the discussions around Zimbabwe, the unity government and the global economic crisis. Below, a recap of the AU’s major discussions:

Zimbabwe:
The summit came immediately following the news that Morgan Tsvangirai, opposition leader for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe, had agreed to the South African Development Community (SADC) proposal to resolve the stalemate between the incumbent ZANU-PF party and the MDC. Tsvangirai’s agreement allows for the implementation of the unity government and Tsvangirai’s swearing in as Prime Minister (scheduled for Feb 11), but still leaves the Home Affairs Ministry (in charge of the police and electoral bodies) in the hands of Mugabe. Tsvangirai has also been given responsibility for the Social and Finance Ministries which means he will be in charge of lobbying donors to assist in addressing the humanitarian situation in the country. Failure to achieve success in this area will rest squarely on his shoulders. African leaders at the summit adopted a resolution calling for the lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe and asked the West to help.

African Union Government:
The summit also announced the appointment of Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi as Chairman of the AU and Gaddafi used the opportunity of his inauguration to restate the case for an African Union government. Gaddafi’s position insists that the only way Africa can meet the challenges of globalization and the fight against poverty, without Western interference, will be through a united government, with Africa speaking with one voice. Gaddafi would also like to see a single passport for free movement of African citizens, and a single military force for the continent. Gaddafi has strong support from Senegal’s President Wade but he faced strong opposition from other nations, led by South Africa, who reported that African countries were not ready and the idea was a long way off from implementation.

The discussions were lengthy and heated at times, but the final agreed resolution was to change the AU Commission into an Authority, after leaders rejected the initial proposal to transform the commission immediately, into a union government. Former Chairman of the AU, President Kikwete of Tanzania, said an adoption of a union government had to be preceded by a study of the legal ramifications so that the sovereignty of the member countries would not be compromised. The details of the structure for the new authority will be agreed at a special session in the next three months with plans to formally launch at the next AU summit in July. Views on the desired speed of integration from AU authority to AU government varied from nine to thirty-five years but all leaders agreed that the continent needed to speak with one voice on international issues, especially trade and climate change.

Somalia and Sudan:
The Heads of State also welcomed the progress made in Somalia, especially the election of a new President. They also expressed concern for the ICC indictment of President Bashir of Sudan, and adopted the AU Peace and Security Council’s communiqué to defer the process of indictment initiated by the ICC. Ironically, they simultaneously condemned the gross violations of human rights in Darfur, and urged that the perpetrators be apprehended and brought to justice.

-Edith Jibunoh, Senior Manager, Africa Outreach