AU leaders reach compromise

2009-07-03 08:16

Sirte - African leaders reached a compromise early Friday on the powers of a new African Union Authority that will coordinate key policies, but have little power to act without a mandate from member states.

The Authority will "co-ordinate the positions of the African Union on questions of common interest for the continent and its people", according to the final agreement.

The new body, which will replace the existing African Union Commission, will "evaluate and follow potential threats to the continent's security and political, economic and social stability", while also co-ordinating efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts.

It will also have the power to represent the continent before other international bodies, when mandated by the 53 member states.

Broad power

The decision to transform the AU Commission into the AU Authority was taken at the last African Union summit in February, but leaders this week have hammered out the specific powers of the new body.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the current AU chief, had pushed to give the new body broad power over regional defence and foreign affairs.

But many African countries had resisted his proposals, fearing a loss of sovereignty and questioning Gaddafi's motives.

To address those concerns, the final text added safeguards ensuring that the AU Authority would only act with the consent of the members, rather than exert any power over them.

"It will only act when mandated by the member states," said one official who was part of the closed-door negotiations.

- SAPA