African Union urges Congo to suspend final election results

January 18, 2019

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — The African Union continental body issued a surprise last-minute demand late Thursday for Congo's government to suspend the announcement of final results of the disputed presidential election, citing "serious doubts."

Congo's constitutional court is poised to rule as early as Friday on a challenge filed by the election's declared runner-up. Martin Fayulu has requested a recount, alleging fraud. Upholding the results could spark violence in a country hoping for its first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence in 1960.

The AU statement said heads of state and government agreed to "urgently dispatch" a high-level delegation to Congo to find "a way out of the post-electoral crisis" in the vast Central African nation rich in the minerals key to smartphones and electric cars around the world.

"This is truly incredible," tweeted Jason Stearns, director of the Congo Research Group at New York University. "Usually, the African Union defers to the subregion ... in this case they departed dramatically."

Congo faces the extraordinary situation of an election allegedly rigged in favor of the opposition. There was no immediate government comment. Fayulu accuses the administration of outgoing President Joseph Kabila of falsifying the results to declare opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi the winner after the ruling party candidate did poorly. Fayulu has cited figures compiled by the influential Catholic Church's 40,000 election observers that found he won 61 percent of the vote.

Two sets of leaked data show that Fayulu won the election by a landslide, according to an investigation published this week by Radio France International and other media working with the Congo Research Group.

In the first set of data, attributed to Congo's electoral commission and representing 86 percent of the votes, Fayulu won 59.4 percent while Tshisekedi received 19 percent. The second set of data, from the Catholic Church's mission, represents 43 percent of the votes. In it, Tshisekedi and ruling party candidate Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary each received less than 20 percent.

Fayulu, a lawmaker and businessman who is outspoken about cleaning up Congo's sprawling corruption, is widely seen as posing more of a threat to Kabila, his allies and the vast wealth they have amassed. Tshisekedi, the son of charismatic opposition leader Etienne who died in 2017, is relatively untested and has said little since the Dec. 30 election.

The AU statement was issued after Congo's foreign minister and deputy prime minister briefed "a number of heads of state and government" from across the continent on the crisis. It said some of the heads of state would join the AU Commission chair, Moussa Faki Mahamat, in the urgent mission to Congo.

Pressure from African nations is seen as having more of an impact on Congo's government, which was annoyed by Western pressure during more than two years of turbulent election delays. The AU statement reflects serious concern by states about the threat of more unrest in Congo that could spill across borders and destabilize its many neighbors.

But countries have wavered on how to address the crisis. The AU statement came hours after the 16-nation Southern African Development Community backed off its earlier demand for an election recount, instead urging the international community to respect Congo's sovereignty. It stressed the need for stability in a country where conflicts over the past two decades have killed millions of people.

The AU statement noted that SADC leaders attended the wider continental talks. Congo's election had been meant to take place in late 2016, and many Congolese worried that Kabila, in power since 2001, was seeking a way to stay in office. Barred from serving three consecutive terms, Kabila already has hinted he might run again in 2023.

Election observers reported multiple problems, including the last-minute barring of some 1 million voters in the east, with the electoral commission blaming a deadly Ebola outbreak. That alone undermines the election's credibility, some observers said.

All of the election results, not just the presidential ones, have been widely questioned after Kabila's ruling coalition won a majority in legislative and provincial votes while its presidential candidate finished a distant third.

African Union chooses Algeria as counterterrorism coordinator

December 1, 2017

The African Union has chosen Algeria as the coordinator of its counterterrorism strategy. President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and his country were named by the chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki, in an official announcement made in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Thursday.

Faki said that Algeria was chosen because of its “pioneering experience” in this area and its effective policy to combat extremism. “All African countries could follow Algeria’s experience in the fight against terrorism,” he added.

The AU official congratulated Algeria and President Bouteflika for their efforts in coordinating the bloc’s efforts towards preventing and combating terrorism.

Source: Middle East Monitor.
Link: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171201-african-union-chooses-algeria-as-counterterrorism-coordinator/.

France seeks to exclude African Union from Libya crisis

August 3, 2017

In meetings with Libyan officials last week, France set out its plan for resolving the Libya crisis without providing a role for the African Union (AU).

Algeria has previously called for the AU to play its role in resolving the unrest in Libyan, however

France has not only isolated the African Union, but has also excluded a country whose role can be seen as pivotal in resolving the Libyan crisis for historical considerations said Jeune Afrique, which is known for its close ties to political circles in France.

The “excluded” country is said to be Italy which launched a campaign through its Minister of Foreign Affairs Angelino Alfano against the French initiative that excluded all parties involved in the Libyan crisis.

Paris, under the rule of former President Nicolas Sarkozy, was the sponsor of the Atlantic military intervention, which aimed to overthrow the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Now Paris seeks to build camps for illegal immigrants in Libya to prevent them from reaching Europe.

Source: Middle East Monitor.
Link: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170803-france-seeks-to-exclude-african-union-from-libya-crisis/.

Burundi rejects African Union peacekeeping force

December 20, 2015

KIGALA, Rwanda (AP) — Burundi's government on Saturday rejected the African Union's plans to deploy a 5,000-strong peacekeeping force to stop escalating violence triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's extended tenure in office, a government spokesman said.

If the African Union sends troops without Burundi's consent it will be viewed as an attack, said government spokesman Philippe Nzobonariba. Burundi has enough forces to maintain peace, he said. Burundi has been in turmoil since April when Nkurunziza's candidacy for a third term was announced. Violence escalated following Nkurunziza's re-election in July.

Last week 87 people died when an unidentified group attacked three military installations. Burundi's security forces responded by going on a rampage in parts of the capital, Bujumbura, regarded as centers of opposition. Police and military are accused of dragging more than 150 civilians from their homes and shooting them at point blank range, according to human rights groups. Burundi's government insists its troops acted professionally.

In response to the violence, the African Union on Friday authorized sending a peacekeeping force to Burundi to stop the political violence. The African Prevention and Protection Mission will be deployed to Burundi for at least six months and its mission can be extended, the African Union's Peace and Security Council said. The force's mandate will include protecting civilians under imminent threat and helping to create conditions for holding inter-Burundian dialogue. The African Union's decision was unusual as it did not seek an invitation from Burundi's government for the peacekeepers.

In another effort at mediation, Burundi's fighting sides are to meet on December 28 in Uganda to try to resolve the crisis, Uganda's defense minister said Saturday. Fourteen groups including Burundi's ruling party, opposition parties and civil society organizations are to attend the talks aimed at ending the violent political unrest in which hundreds have been killed, said Crispus Kiyonga, who is also the facilitator of the peace talks mediated by the East African Community. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will moderate the talks, he said.

However the chances for these negotiations are not certain as the Nkurunziza government refused to participate in previous talks. The United Nations Security Council, in a statement Saturday, expressed "deep concern about the escalation of violence in Burundi," condemning both the attack on the military installations and the retaliatory rampage in Bujumbura. The council urged all sides in Burundi to support Museveni's mediation effort and to cooperate with the African Union's plan to deploy a peacekeeping force.

At least 400 people have been killed since April 26, when it was announced Nkurunziza would run for a third term, according to human rights groups. Nearly 3,500 people have been arrested in the political crisis and 220,000 people have fled the country.

Nkurunziza's third term was opposed by many Burundians and the international community, who say it violates the country's constitution two-term limit. Nkurunziza argues that his first term in office does not count because he was elected by parliament and not by the people.

AP writers Elias Meseret in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tom Odula in Nairobi, Kenya and Risdel Kasasira in Kampala, Uganda, contributed to this report.

AU summit to green-light anti-Boko Haram taskforce

30 January 2015 Friday

The African Union (AU) summit will back plans to deploy a taskforce mandated with fighting the Boko Haram militant group in four African countries, the AU commissioner for peace and security has said.

"The AU summit will approve the deployment of 7,500 African troops to fight Boko Haram in Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon," Ismail Chergui told The Anadolu Agency on Friday.

He gave no details, however, as to which countries would contribute troops for the force.

Chergui said the Boko Haram issue had dominated Thursday's meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council.

"This terrorist organization is threatening the security and stability of countries in West and Central Africa," he said.

The AU summit kicked off on Friday in Addis Ababa with 40 African heads of state attending the two-day event.

Outlawed in Nigeria, Turkey and the United States, Boko Haram first emerged in the early 2000s in Nigeria, where it preached against government misrule and police corruption.

In 2009, the group became fanatically violent following the death of its leader while in police custody.

Source: World Bulletin.
Link: http://www.worldbulletin.net/todays-news/154089/au-summit-to-green-light-anti-boko-haram-taskforce.

5 dead in al-Shabab raid on AU base

Thu Dec 25, 2014

At least five al-Shabab militants have reportedly been killed after attacking a military base belonging to the African Union (AU) mission in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

Colonel Ali Aden Houmed, spokesman for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), said on Thursday that the militants launched an attack on the Halane military base, Somalia’s largest base for AU troops, in Mogadishu.

The AU official said at least eight militants stormed the base, adding that three of them were shot dead, while two others detonated their explosives and died near a fuel depot.

Three others were also believed to have fled the scene of the attack.

The al-Shabab militant group has claimed responsibility for the assault, saying it was targeting a Christmas party at the base near the capital’s airport, which also houses UN offices.

Witnesses said the attack prompted a heavy exchange of fire between the AU forces and the militants.

The Somali government and the African Union forces have stepped up safety measures in an effort to prevent assaults by al-Shabab, which was pushed out of Mogadishu by the African Union troops in 2011.

However, the group still holds several smaller towns and areas in the center and south of the country.

Somalia has been the scene of clashes between government forces and al-Shabab since 1991.

The country did not have an effective central government until September 2012, when lawmakers elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the new president.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/391808.html.

African Union envoy meets Burkina Faso opposition

November 04, 2014

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — International envoys tried on Tuesday to resolve Burkina Faso's political crisis, with the specter of a power vacuum looming after the country's longtime president fled last week.

Opposition protesters — who said 27 years in power was enough for one man — forced President Blaise Compaore to resign and flee to Ivory Coast. Confusion ensued, with different factions of the military and the civilian opposition all vying for control.

Order has been restored in Ouagadougou, the capital, with business appearing to return to normal and no unusual presence of police or military on the streets. For now, the military appears to be in charge and has designated Lt. Col. Isaac Yacouba Zida as the transitional leader. The opposition has dropped its demands that the military immediately surrender power and is instead calling for talks to work out a solution.

But the African Union and others in the international community have held a firmer line. The African Union, which represents 53 countries on the continent, gave the West African country two weeks to return to constitutional rule or face sanctions.

Its envoy, former Togolese Prime Minister Edem Kodjo, met Tuesday with leaders of the opposition. Following the meeting, opposition leader Zephirin Diabre indicated that there may be wiggle room in the AU's ultimatum.

"It's clear that this is a situation where political dialogue should be allowed to take into account the exceptional nature of this particular situation," he said. "We'll work to respect the deadline. If we can't, they'll understand."

The U.N. secretary-general's representative for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has echoed the AU's goal, saying he and other envoys are working to "quickly find a solution that is consistent" with the national constitution. The presidents of Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana are expected to arrive Wednesday to participate in talks.

Lt. Col. Zida, meanwhile, met with religious leaders and traditional chiefs. Afterward, the country's Catholic cardinal, Philip Ouedraogo, said the military seemed open to dialogue. "The problem with Burkina is we are still far from certain as to exactly what is going to happen: The military has made promises that they don't want to hang on to power but, if not, why hang on to it in the first place?" asked Jeggan Grey-Johnson, an analyst with the Open Society Foundation's Africa Regional Office in Johannesburg.

"The military is split ... and the opposition is as split as ever. Meanwhile, the president of the National Assembly has basically run away and abdicated his responsibilities, so there's really a huge vacuum going forward," said Grey-Johnson.

That's worrying for a country that has served as an important ally to the West. Under Compaore's semi-authoritarian rule, Burkina Faso was a bastion of relative stability in a volatile region and a reliable ally of the West. The country hosts French special forces and is an important partner of both France and the United States in the fight against Islamic militants in the region.

In fact, Zida himself received counterterrorism training from the U.S. government. When he was a major, he attended a course in early 2012 at the Joint Special Operations University at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, as part of a program under which the U.S. Department of Defense provides training to foreign military officers.

He also attended a Defense Department-funded course in Botswana later that year. A 2013 U.S. State Department report lauded Burkina Faso as "a strong U.S. security and defense partner" in counterterrorism in the region that "aggressively undertook measures to combat the regional danger posed by terrorist organizations." Burkina Faso borders Mali, whose al-Qaida-linked militants took control of the country's north for a time before a French-led intervention last year scattered them throughout the region.

The French were quick to praise Compaore's decision to leave, and the United States called again on Monday for a civilian-led transition and elections soon. Even though calm has largely returned to Ouagadougou, members of the former ruling party and their allies asked for protection from Zida's government on Tuesday, saying many of them have nowhere to go after their homes were destroyed in opposition protests last week.

Associated Press writers David Rising in Berlin and Michelle Faul in Johannesburg contributed to this report.

AU troops declare war on CAR militia

Wed Mar 26, 2014

The African Union peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic (CAR) has declared war against the majority Christian vigilante groups.

The head of the African-led peacekeeping mission to the CAR blamed the anti-Balaka groups for attacks against the troops belonging to the African Union force.

“From now on, we consider the anti-Balaka as enemies of MISCA,” media outlets quoted Congolese General Jean Marie Michel as saying, adding, “And we will treat them as such.”

The peacekeepers have been fighting the anti-Balaka in the capital Bangui since Saturday, with at least 16 people being killed in the latest clashes there.

“They even fire on people who are here to try to end this crisis on behalf of the Central African people to which they belong. We hold them responsible for attacks that have targeted our troops in recent days,” the general added.

The AU mission is in the CAR to help end an ongoing violence which broke out between Muslims and Christians a year ago.

The United Nations Human Rights chief, Navi Pillay, has recently expressed horror at the level of the ongoing violence in the CAR.

The developments come as UN has described the displacement of the Muslims of the CAR as ethnic-religious cleansing.

The conflict in the CAR erupted after Christian militia launched coordinated attacks on the mostly Muslim Seleka group, which toppled the government last March.

Christian militiamen, however, have been targeting the Muslim population as a whole.

French and African peacekeepers are on the ground, but they have been unable to stop the violence and even in some occasions have been accused of killing Muslims.

France currently has around 2,000 troops in the CAR, while the African Union has three times that number.

So far, thousands of people are believed to have been killed and more than one million displaced.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/356108.html.

African Union Election Observers Begin Work in Mali

BY PETER CLOTTEY
23 JULY 2013

The deputy chairman of the African Union (AU) says the group's election observer mission has arrived in Mali for the West African nation's presidential vote on Sunday.

Erastus Mwencha also says the AU has partnered with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to help Mali's interim government and support the country's efforts to return to constitutional rule.

Some Malians, including the chairman of the electoral commission, expressed concern about Sunday's vote because of rising tension despite a recent peace agreement signed by the government and the rebels.

"ECOWAS with the African Union and a number of other stakeholders and international partners have come to the conclusion that let's move ahead with the elections," said Mwencha. "Because you have a situation that you want to have a legitimate partner that would be able to get Mali back to normalcy."

Backed by the United Nations and ECOWAS, Burundi's former president, Pierre Buyoya, was appointed to be the AU High Representative for Mali and Head of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA). Mwencha says Mr. Buyoya has been coordinating efforts with various groups in Mali in the run-up to the vote.

"We are on the ground, we have given the necessary support that we could and so we hope that as we are now in the final stages of the election, it would be conducted in an atmosphere that allows the people of Mali to express themselves," said Mwencha.

Last week, gunmen released election workers who were distributing voter identification materials in preparation for the vote. Their capture and subsequent release sparked worry that a peaceful election cannot be guaranteed. Mwencha said AFISMA is working with Mali's security agencies as well as the candidates to ensure peaceful balloting.

"Our team on the ground has had to make sure that they interact with the various politicians to ensure that they give their commitment that they conduct themselves in a peaceful manner, and campaign on issues," said Mwencha.

He expressed hope that the candidates will accept the election results.

"The confidence that we have word that the various candidates have pledged themselves, [and] what we hope for is, of course, that the election body would be able to organize the elections in such a manner that all candidates would be satisfied," said Mwencha. "All the political parties are being held accountable by the people to commit themselves to accept the election results."

Mwencha says the election provides good prospects that the people of Mali can live in peace following the overthrow of the former government and the subsequent takeover by Islamic militants in parts of the country's north.

"We see it as an opportunity that you now have partners that would be able to move the peace and the political process forward." Mwencha said. "And that is why it is extremely important that at the end of the day the parties should accept whoever is chosen because that would be the first step in uniting the country."

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201307241518.html.

Africa Union urges united stand against ICC trials

February 01, 2014

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — The African Union urged its members to "speak with one voice" to prevent criminal proceedings at the International Criminal court against sitting presidents, according to a statement Saturday.

The 54-nation organization said it was disappointed that a request to the U.N. Security Council to defer the trials of Kenya's leaders "has not yielded the positive result expected." The African Union also has sought the deferral of criminal proceedings against Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who has been charged with genocide in Darfur.

Only Botswana has opposed the stand taken by the African Union, made in a statement received Saturday after a summit in Ethiopia attended by 34 leaders. "African states parties should comply with African Union decisions on the ICC and continue to speak with one voice," the statement said, adding "There is an imperative need for all member states to ensure that they adhere to and articulate commonly agreed positions ..."

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto face charges of crimes against humanity at the international court at The Hague for allegedly orchestrating post-election violence that killed more than 1,000 people following a disputed presidential election in late 2007. Both men deny the charges.

The International Criminal Court has recently come under strong criticism from African leaders who accuse it of racism in indicting only Africans. Countries such as Uganda have suggested they may decide to sever ties with the court in solidarity with Kenya. Some Africans also argue that the Kenyan leaders need to concentrate on governing their countries to ensure stability as the region faces unprecedented terrorist challenges.

Ruto's trial continues at The Hague but the case against Kenyatta may collapse. Kenyatta's trial was to start in November but was postponed to February after the prosecution and defense teams said they needed more time to prepare. The prosecutor in December asked for an additional three-month adjournment after one witness withdrew and another said they gave false evidence.

A Kenyan court on Friday refused to stop the arrest of a journalist wanted by the international court for allegedly interfering with prosecution witnesses in the case against Ruto.

AU peacekeeper killed in Central African Republic

December 24, 2013

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — An African Union peacekeeper from the Republic of Congo was killed over the weekend in Central African Republic by a Christian militia, underscoring the growing peril that international forces are facing in the troubled nation.

The Congolese soldier was stationed in the remote town of Bossangoa, which has been at the epicenter of the fighting between the country's Muslim minority, whose members grabbed power in a coup nine months ago, and the nation's Christian majority. He was killed by the anti-balaka, a Christian militia, the official said on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak on the matter.

"His body was brought back to Brazzaville an hour ago," said the official, who accompanied the soldier's remains to the capital of the Republic of Congo late Monday. "He was killed last night in Bossangoa by the anti-balaka, with an unprecedented level of barbarity. They lacerated him, and hacked his head."

French and African forces deployed to Central African Republic earlier this month to try to bring order to a nation described by some as being on the verge of genocide. Initially, the foreign forces were cheered by the population, hundreds of whom lined the streets to welcome arriving brigades.

But within weeks, the mood has changed and the international forces are now being seen as having taken sides in the conflict. French troops have come under attack from the Seleka rebels, the Muslim fighters who overthrew the country's Christian president in March. That's because the French are seen as being against the Muslim interim president, Michel Djotodia.

Similarly, the African peacekeepers have come under attack from Christian fighters. They see the Chadian contingent, which is part of the African Union-led force, as allied with the country's Muslims.

The AU-led force, known as MISCA, was created under a U.N, Security Council mandate. Also on Monday in Central African Republic's capital, a Muslim man and his son were lynched by an angry Christian mob near the airport.

Tony Ferrera, who is among the 40,000 refugees seeking shelter at the international airport, said Christians there had organized a march to demand the departure of the Muslim president. Ferrera said that as the Christian crowd was marching, a Muslim family came from the opposite direction. When the man brandished a gun and began shooting in the air, the mob pounced on him, accusing him of being a Seleka rebel. Both the man and his son were lynched.

His wife was able to run away, Ferrera said. In Paris, French military spokesman Col. Gilles Jaron told The Associated Press, that French forces had come under attack in recent days. "We are seeing a very clear rise in tension," he said. "We are acting since we did in the beginning — in total Impartiality."

In New York, Samantha Power, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who had just returned from Central African Republic, urged the world to pay attention to the country, where "terrible atrocities are occurring."

She recalled meeting a woman whose husband was stabbed in front of her and then doused in flames. "Part of what those who have survived violence of this nature are crying out for is justice," Power said. "And one of the worries that we came away from the Central African Republic with was that those who are not seeing justice done are increasingly tempted to take matters into their own hands, and that you're seeing a cycle of retribution and violence which is very, very long."

__ Louis Okamba contributed to this report from Brazzaville, Central African Republic. Associated Press writers Angela Charlton in Paris, Rukmini Callimachi in Dakar, Senegal, and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations also contributed to this report.

AU forces suspected of rape in Somalia

Aug. 19, 2013

MOGADISHU, Somalia, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- The United Nations said it was concerned by allegations a Somali woman was raped by members of an African Union peacekeeping force in the country.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said sexual violence is one of the worst challenges facing the fledgling Somali government. OHCHA documents approximately 800 cases of sexual violence in Mogadishu during the first six months of 2013.

U.N. special envoy for Somalia Nicholas Kay said he was concerned by reports members of the African Union Mission in Somalia raped a woman near its military campus in Mogadishu in early August.

"It is important that any investigation is rigorous and prompt," he said in a statement Sunday. "If there is a case to answer, any perpetrator should be prosecuted and held fully accountable while basic rights are protected."

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Somalia is tasked with providing support to African Union troops as they train for deployment. Kay said the U.N. mission would continue working on addressing sexual violence as it works to support its mandate for Somalia.

Somalia last year formed a central government for the first time since the 1990s. It's struggled to exert its influence beyond Mogadishu because of terrorist control and separatist ambitions.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2013/08/19/AU-forces-suspected-of-rape-in-Somalia/UPI-68041376925886/.

African Union suspends Egypt's membership

By Hadra Ahmed | IANS

Addis Adaba, July 5 (IANS) Following the overthrow of Egypt's elected president Mohammed Morsi by the military, the African Union (AU) Friday suspended that country's membership until restoration of constitutional order.

The decision was taken at the emergency session of the AU's Peace and Security Council (PSC) here.

"The PSC will deliberate on the situation in Egypt and take the required decisions on the basis of the relevant AU instruments, including the African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, the Algiers Decision and the Lome Declaration," a statement said.

PSC chairperson Nkosazana Dilamini Zuma said that the AU recognized the situation in Egypt as an "exceptional" but stands by the principles of constitutional changes of government.

"It is the responsibility of all Egyptian leaders to work towards the fulfillment of these legitimate aspirations," she said.

However, the Egyptian ambassador to Ethiopia and the AU noted that it was the Egyptian people that brought Morsi to power and were the ones that revolted against him and the army's involvement was just to fulfil their aspirations.

"The source of legitimacy has come from the people. The army and other powers in Egypt were just supporting the will of the people," he said.

The AU has also decided to dispatch a team of eminent persons to Egypt to hold discussions with the ruling authorities and other Egyptian stakeholders.

AU likely to suspend Egypt

Friday 5 July 2013

ADDIS ABABA: The African Union is likely to suspend Egypt from all its activities after the Egyptian military suspended the constitution and overthrew the elected president, Muhammad Mursi, a senior AU source said yesterday.

AU commissioner Lamamra Ramtane told the Associated Press yesterday that the AU's peace and security council will meet today to deliberate on Egypt's political crisis and that the members were likely to implement the AU's usual response to any interruption of constitutional rule by a member state.

During the meeting, the African Union official said, the continental body will discuss political events in Egypt, where the country's democratically leader was ousted by the military.

"The belief is that the doctrine will be applied, which is suspension for any country where an unconstitutional change has taken place," he said.

In March, the AU also suspended the Central African Republic after rebels overthrew the government there.

"We intend to dispatch a mission and urge the Egyptian authorities to establish dialogue," Lamamra said.

The AU usually suspends the membership of countries where the military ousts an elected government. Hinting that such a move could be coming, the head of the AU Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Wednesday said the body has "a principled position on unconstitutional changes of government."

Dlamini-Zuma had urged Egyptians to hold dialogue to end the crisis within the framework of Egyptian law. Egypt's military toppled President Mursi on Wednesday.

Source: Arab News.
Link: http://www.arabnews.com/news/457023.

Algiers host AU Security Council meeting

2013-06-30

Foreign ministers from African Union Security Council member states gathered on Saturday (June 29th) in Algiers for a meeting on national reconciliation and development, APS reported.

Representatives of the United Nations, the EU, and the Arab League attended the event, as well as top-level AU officials. The participants underlined the importance of the national reconciliation in the resolving of the conflicts in Africa and for the fight against terrorism and the organized crime.

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://magharebia.com/en_GB/articles/awi/newsbriefs/general/2013/06/30/newsbrief-03.

AU mission in Somalia authorized to increase to 12,000 troops

Sep 30, 2011

New York - The African Union mission in Somalia was Friday authorized to increase its military strength to 12,000 troops.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution raising the troops ceiling and extended the presence of the UN Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) until October 2012.

The resolution allowed AMISOM to take 'all necessary measures' to carry out its mandate in the Horn of African country, which has been hit by severe drought and famine, and an insurgency that has prevented the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Widespread insecurity and piracy are the other constant challenges of the transitional government in Somalia.

The resolution also called on the government in Mogadishu to abide by the terms and carry out the keys tasks in the political roadmap in the coming 12 months. The transitional period is shifting to an elected government, which is to assume political responsibilities by next year.

Source: Monsters and Critics.
Link: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/africa/news/article_1666119.php/AU-mission-in-Somalia-authorized-to-increase-to-12-000-troops.

African Union recognizes Libya's NTC

Tue Sep 20, 2011

The African Union (AU) says that it has recognized Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) as the government of the North African country.

The AU said in a statement that it was ready to support the NTC in its efforts to build an inclusive government, Reuters reported.

"The African Union stands ready to support the Libyan people... as they rebuild their country towards a united, democratic, peaceful and prosperous Libya," the statement said.

Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who holds the African Union's rotating chair, made the announcement on Tuesday.

Most European countries, the US and Nigeria had recognized the NTC.

Meanwhile, Libya's NTC fighters are still fighting with troops loyal to fugitive ruler Muammar Gaddafi to capture their last strongholds, Sirte and Bani Walid.

The Libyan dictator is believed hiding in the country, although members of his family fled to Algeria and Niger after revolutionary forces overran the capital Tripoli last month.

In a new message broadcast on Tuesday, Gaddafi called his opponents' takeover of the country a charade.

"What is happening in Libya is a charade which will not last forever," he said in the message on Syrian-based satellite station al-Rai TV.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.com/detail/200229.html.

AU Recognizes NTC in Libya

20 SEPTEMBER 2011

Pretoria — The African Union (AU) has officially recognized the National Transitional Council (NTC) as the representative of the Libyan people as they form an all-inclusive transitional government that will occupy the Libyan seat at the AU.

"The AU stands ready to support the Libyan people, on the basis of the AU Roadmap and working together with the international community, as they rebuild their country towards a united, democratic, peaceful and prosperous Libya," read a statement issued by the office of the Chairperson of the African Union, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who is also the President of Equatorial Guinea.

On Tuesday, Mbasogo received a briefing from the Ad Hoc Committee of the AU Peace and Security Council regarding the developments in Libya, on the eve of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The briefing was based on the outcomes of the meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council held in Addis Ababa on 26 August and the meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Libya held on 14 September in Pretoria.

At both meetings, the AU encouraged the Libyan stakeholders to form an all-inclusive transitional government that would work towards the promotion of national unity, reconciliation and democracy and urged the National Transitional Council (NTC) to protect all foreign workers, including African migrant workers.

The leadership of the National Transitional Council, in its letter to the Chairperson of the AU Commission on 5 September, provided assurances stressing their commitment to:

* the African continent;

* give priority to national unity and to bring together all Libyan stakeholders, without any exception, to rebuild the country; and to

* protect all foreign workers within Libya, including the African migrant workers.

These commitments were in line with the provisions of the AU Roadmap.

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201109201513.html.

South Sudan becomes newest member of AU

LONDON, July 29 (UPI) -- The decision to accept South Sudan into the African Union demonstrates the country is taking its place on the international stage, a British official said.

The African Union announced this week that it received the requisite number of written approvals for the admission of South Sudan following the country's request to join the bloc.

The 53-member African Union noted that 33 member states, including Sudan, backed South Sudan's request. Admission is decided by a simple majority.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague in a statement said London welcomed South Sudan as the 54th member of the African Union.

"Following accession to the United Nations, this is a further demonstration of South Sudan taking its rightful place among the international community," he said in a statement.

South Sudan was welcomed as the 193rd member of the U.N. General Assembly shortly after gaining independence July 9. Independence was part of a comprehensive peace agreement reached in 2005 that ended Sudan's bloody civil war.

Issues like revenue-sharing, currency and border demarcation continue to hamper the security situation in the region.

The United Nations sent peacekeepers to the disputed region of Abyei and rights groups have called for similar action in South Kordofan, the site of alleged ethnic killings along the border between the two Sudans.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/07/29/South-Sudan-becomes-newest-member-of-AU/UPI-60341311955869/.

Burundi sends more troops for AU Somalia force

Mar 14, 2011

BUJUMBURA, Burundi — Burundi has deployed an additional 1,000 soldiers for the African Union force protecting the Somali government, the military chief said Monday.

General Godefroid Niyombare told AFP the soldiers were sent a week ago to join the 8,000 Burundian and Ugandan troops in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

"Burundi and Uganda... agreed to each send 1,000 troops as part of the additional 4,000 soldiers required. Burundi has fulfilled its promise," Niyombare said.

The AU last year requested the force be boosted to 12,000 from its authorized strength of 8,000.

Somalia's civil war has taken a heavy toll on the troops and in a recent offensive against Al Qaeda-inspired Shebab rebels, at least 43 Burundian soldiers were killed.

"The morale of the troops in Somalia is very high despite the losses we suffered," the army chief said.

"Not only was the operation successful, but the arrival of their comrades will see them consolidate the new positions" seized from the insurgents.

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.