AU Summit
Tanzania
From GABBY
MGAYA in Addis Ababa
IT is now a
reality. Tanzania will host the 29th Ordinary Session of the
Assembly of Heads of State and Government in 2017.
Tanzania’s
offer to host the AU summit was one of the items on the agenda of the just
ended such summit here.
Tanzania’s
Ambassador to Ethiopia, Professor Joram Mukama Biswaro, told the ‘Daily News’
here yesterday that Dar’s proposal to host the summit had successfully gone through
all the necessary channels, including an AU ambassadorial meeting and the
Council of Foreign Ministers.
Ambassador
Biswaro said that as Tanzania had done its homework well, including carrying
out intensive lobbying among AU member states, it was all plain sailing at the Heads
of State and Government Assembly and the country’s candidature was a foregone
conclusion.
The offers’
acceptance ushers in five years of intensive preparations, including
installation of the necessary infrastructure, such as construction of a fitting
conference hall as well as the consolidation of the transportation and
communications network, among other works, to ensure successful hosting of the
summit.
Meanwhile,
the summit has elected six commissioners out of the required eight following
the election and re-election of Ms Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma from South Africa as
AU Commission Chairperson, replacing Dr Jean Ping from Gabon, and Mr Erastus
Mwencha from Kenya as her deputy.
They are Mr
Ramtane Lamamra from Algeria (Peace and Security), Ms Aisha Abdullah from
Nigeria (Political Affairs), Ms Elham Mahmoud from Egypt (Infrastructure and
Economy), Mr Mustapha Kaloko from Sierra Leone (Social Affairs), Ms Fatima Acyl
from Chad (Trade and Industry) and Ms Rhoda Tumusiime from Uganda (Rural
Economy and Agriculture).
The Summit
decided that Commissioners for Human Resources, Science and Technology; and
Economic Affairs will be elected only among male candidates from Central Africa
and Southern Africa.
This is in
accordance with the provisions of the statutes of the Commission as well as the
rules and procedures of the assembly. The election will be held during the
ordinary session of the Executive Council in January 2013. The posts will be
advertised.
Appointments
to the AU Commissioner are mainly done along zonal and gender balance lines.
Meanwhile,
the outgoing AU Commission Chairperson, Dr Ping has gracefully admitted
‘defeat’ and pledged to give his successor, Ms Dlamini-Zuma, all the necessary
support and assistance to enable her execute her duties well whenever asked to
do so.
The two agreed
to work together to achiever greater African unity at the closing hours of the
19th summit here on Monday.
Sources
close to the summit said Ms Dlamini-Zuma had earlier showered praise on Dr
Ping’s service at the helm of the commission and requested for his assistance
and support to enable her handle her new responsibilities effectively.
AU
Chairperson, Benin President Dr Boni Yayi, said the meeting of minds between Dr
Ping and Ms Dlamini-Zuma has disappointed all detractors of Africa.
Ends
