Sudanese envoy tours African capitals to rally support for candidates for African Union
June 24, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – A special Sudanese presidential envoy has started a tour to several African capitals to rally support for his country’s candidates for two African Union Commission’s (AUC) positions.
In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune Friday, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry said that President Omer al-Bashir has intensified contacts with his African counterparts to support Sudan’s candidates for the AUC positions.
It added that State Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Envoy Kamal al-Din Ismail has begun a tour including north and west Africa’s nations to garner support for Sudan’s candidates.
The statement pointed out that Ismail started his tour on Thursday by visiting the Algerian capital where he met with the Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and handed him a letter from al-Bashir to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
According to the statement, Ismail also travelled to Tunisia on Thursday and handed its Foreign Minister Khamis al-Jehinawi a message from al-Bashir to his Tunisian counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi.
Ismail also flew to Mauritania’s capital, Nouakchott on Thurday evening where he handed the President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz a similar message from al-Bashir.
The member states of the African Union are divided into five geographic regions of the African Union including the North, West, East, Southern and Central regions. Sudan falls into the Eastern region.
Thirty four candidates from the various African regions would compete for the AUC’s posts including the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and eight commissioners next month.
Last week, Sudan pledged support Ugandan candidate for the position of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
It is noteworthy that the Horn countries are underrepresented at the AU institutions due to wars in Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia besides the sanctions imposed on Sudan while the North African countries have shown asceticism to assume AU positions.
On the other hand, West and Central African countries, who are engaged in an economic integration, dominate all the AU organs.
The AUC acts as the executive/administrative branch or secretariat of the AU. It consists of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and eight commissioners dealing with different areas of policy.
The commissioners are elected by the AU Executive Council and appointed by the Assembly.
Under article 6 of the Commission Statutes, the region from which the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson are appointed is entitled to one commissioner each. All other regions shall be entitled to two commissioners. At least one commissioner from each region shall be a woman.
The Commission is head-quartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
(ST)