AU chief calls for respect of democracy in Africa

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

January 29, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare, yesterday called on the African Union Foreign Ministers to ensure the implementation and respect of good governance, democracy, non-indifference and gender equality which he said are principles adopted by the AU Member States themselves.

Addressing the AU Foreign Affairs Ministers, Konare also expressed deep concerns about the maintenance of peace and security within the continent, the reinforcement of the Commission as well as the representation of African diplomatic missions abroad, the leadership of Africa and its socio-economic and political integration and the need for an African common industrial policy in line with the theme of the AU Summit: “Industrial Development of Africa”, an AU press release indicated.

“Africa is one from north to south and from east to west, there is nothing like northern Africa opposed to sub-Saharan Africa”, said the Chairperson of the Commission. He also said partnerships should not be done in a fragmented way between stakeholders and African countries, but rather in solidarity by letting Africa speak with one voice.

Concerning the principle of non-indifference, Chairperson Konare was emphatic on the need to assist member countries in times of crises. He pointed out the case of the serious drought faced by eastern and southern African countries, the Palestine issue “considered by others as a problem of the Middle East” now affecting Egypt, and the Somali and Darfur conflicts which he said are the origin of greater instability of neighboring countries and Africa as a whole.

He thanked the countries that contributed to the deployment of peacekeeping at request of the AU Commission, especially Burundi and Uganda in this respect.

Regarding the Kenyan presidential post electoral conflict, Konare seriously condemned what he described as a systematic violation of human rights. “We can not sit and observe genocide, after drawing lessons from the Rwanda genocide”, he emphasized.

According to the press release, the Chairperson also made note on freedom of the press as well as liberty of expression. He lauded journalists for painting a real picture of the African Union through their constructive reports. “There is no democracy without the press ”, he emphasized.

Taking the floor later, the UN under Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Abdoulie Janneh, underscored the need to support Africa’s aspirations of the NEPAD and African Peer Review Mechanism to help develop the continent.

Concerning the theme of the Summit, he explained that industrial development in Africa would reduce the dependence of African countries on production and export of primary commodities as well as integrate firms and businesses into global value chains. This, he said, will help the continent to become dynamic, diversified and technologically advanced.

(ST)