The African Union has vowed to finance its working budget using mainly domestic resources as it marks its 50th anniversary this week, the deputy chairperson of the continental body’s commission has said. Erastus Mwencha made the comments on Thursday at the AU’s headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, while addressing a news conference about [...]
Is the African Union Equipped to Serve for Another 50 Years?
May 21, 2013 | Posted by
The African Union (AU) is now 50 years old. Amid the celebrations this week, the AU – which was established as the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963 – needs to take stock of its strengths and weaknesses as an intergovernmental organization designed to promote the pan-African agenda politically and economically. As articulated by the [...]
Sudan Signs Ceasefire Pact With Darfur Rebels
February 12, 2013 | Posted by
The government of Sudan and one of the main rebel factions in Darfur have signed a ceasefire agreement, the United Nations-African Union mediator announced today. “This is a major breakthrough in the road towards a comprehensive and lasting peace accord in Darfur,” said Aichatou Mindaoudou, who is also the Acting Joint Special Representative in the [...]
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe Seeks African Unity Through One President
January 17, 2013 | Posted by
President Robert Mugabe yesterday said the forthcoming African Union (AU) summit should discuss the appointment of a president of Africa to foster unity and ensure that member states adhere to the founding principles of the continental body. Mugabe was addressing journalists at State House in Harare after a two-hour meeting with President Thomas Boni Yayi [...]
UN-African Union Envoy Concerned Over Fighting in Darfur
January 10, 2013 | Posted by
The acting head of the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in the Sudanese region of Darfur Wednesday expressed serious concern over fighting taking place in the Jebel Marra area. The acting joint special representative and head of the hybrid mission – known by the acronym UNAMID – Aichatou Mindaoudou, voiced her concerns yesterday in a [...]
Kenyan Troops Invade Kismayo In Bid To Drive Out Al-Shabab
September 28, 2012 | Posted by
Kenyan troops have invaded the Somalian port city of Kismayo as part of an African Union military effort to drive the radical Islamic group al-Shabab from its last stronghold in the war-torn country. Kenyan forces came ashore just before dawn in an operation that has roughly been a year in the making since their government [...]
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma: First Woman to Head African Union
July 17, 2012 | Posted by
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — African leaders have elected a female politician from South Africa to lead the African Union. South African Minister of Home Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (pictured) was voted in late Sunday to lead the African Union Commission. Dlamini-Zuma successfully challenged the incumbent, Jean Ping of Gabon, who held the post since 2008. Ping [...]
Liberia’s 1st Female President Urges African Nations to Empower Women
July 15, 2012 | Posted by
In a continuing effort to focus more of the African continent’s attention on the plight of women in the previously announced African Decade of Women (2010-2020), Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf—one of two female presidents on the continent—pressed the international community to do more to insure food security in Africa. “Unless we achieve food security, [...]
Sudan, Mali to Top African Union Agenda
July 9, 2012 | Posted by
Addis Ababa – As the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) meeting got underway in Ethiopia on Monday, ahead of the 19th African Union Summit, commissioners were looking set to emerge with radical proposals aimed at addressing the political instability in Mali and the soured relations between Sudan and South Sudan. The United Nations warned this week [...]
Malawi President Joyce Banda Boycotts African Union Summit
June 15, 2012 | Posted by
President Joyce Banda of Malawi will not attend the African Union (AU) summit that was moved to Ethiopia after she said her country did not want to host Sudan’s leader, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on genocide charges. Ms. Banda, president since April, has been trying to woo back overseas donors that [...]
