Nigeria Pres Urges More African Cooperation
ABUJA, Nigeria, Jan 30, 2005 (AP) – Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo implored dozens of leaders gathered Sunday at an African Union summit to work together to overcome the problems afflicting the world’s poorest continent.
Africa’s conflicts – and ways the A.U. can help end them – are expected to take center stage during the summit, with leaders set to discuss fighting in war-divided countries, such as Ivory Coast and Congo, and ongoing violence in Sudan ‘s western Darfur region – acts of which the bloc condemned on Sunday.
“Let us show to the world that we can really tackle and solve African issues,” said Obasanjo, who holds the A.U.’s rotating leadership, as he kicked off the summit in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.
While most of the world has grown wealthier in the four decades since the majority of African countries won independence, the continent has largely grown poorer, a fact the chairman of the Ethiopia-based A.U., Alpha Oumar Konare, linked to persistent conflicts.
“If the security of our continent doesn’t improve, no development is possible,” he told African leaders.
Obasanjo also condemned recent violence in Sudan ‘s Darfur region, where the U.N., citing A.U. observers, has said nearly 100 people were killed when a Sudanese plane bombed their village. Sudanese officials have called the reports unfounded.
“We can’t but condemn such carnage no matter what excuse may be raised to try to justify it,” Obasanjo said of the attacks.
At least 40 of Africa’s 53 leaders were in Abuja for the twice-yearly, two-day summit.
U.N. reform is also high on the summit’s agenda. African leaders are vying for more of a say in U.N. affairs, long dominated by the U.N. Security Council’s five permanent members – the U.K., China, France, Russia and the U.S.
One possible U.N. reform is expanding the Security Council, and Nigeria – the continent’s most populous nation and a regional political and military heavyweight – is one of the African countries angling for a permanent seat on a larger council.
The leaders were also expected to consider a Libyan proposal to abolish customs duties between African countries – a move intended to speed economic integration on the continent and lead to greater political cooperation.