Africa gets tough with illegitimate govts

2002-07-02 20:56

Durban - African nations on Tuesday signalled their intention to deal decisively with illegitimate regimes on the continent by barring Madagascar from the soon-to-be-launched African Union (AU).

Agreement was also reached on the composition of an organ to stem war and conflict in Africa, a top Organisation for African Unity (OAU) official said in Durban.

Assistant secretary-general Said Djinnit was briefing reporters on preparatory events in the port city ahead of next week's formal launch of the AU, which will be replacing the 38-year-old OAU.

The events included a special session of African foreign ministers that was concluded on Tuesday night.

Djinnit said Madagascar's seat on the AU would remain open until a legitimate government was in place.

"The seat will remain vacant until there is a government in Madagascar that is conforming to the principles of the OAU."

Djinnit also disclosed that Africa's new security watchdog body under the AU would comprise 15 members elected for a limited period.

Africa's version of United Nations Security Council

Ten members would be elected to sit on the African Union's Peace and Security Council for two years and five members for a period of three years.

Those countries elected onto the council could be re-elected, thus allowing for continuity, he said.

All member-states would be eligible, provided they were committed to AU principles and prepared to contribute to peace and security on the continent.

The body is seen as Africa's version of the United Nations Security Council.

"Africa needs such a robust unit to deal with issues on the continent," Djinnit said.

The protocol to establish the council was expected to be signed at the Assembly of Heads of State at its meeting to officially launch the AU next week.

Explaining the Madagascar decision, Djinnit said the Central Organ of the OAU, led by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, reached agreement on the matter last week.

They resolved that the December 16 election which pitted Marc Ravalomanana against the incumbent Didier Ratsiraka had not resulted in a legally constituted government for Madagascar.

Ravalomanana has claimed victory in the poll and the presidency, but this has been disputed by Ratsiraka and troops loyal to the former president.

Djinnit said the decision to exclude Madagascar from the AU was taken at the highest level and would only be reviewed once new and legitimate elections had taken place.

Nepad hopes to attract billions in investment

The OAU Central Organ wanted a constitution in place that allowed for a democratically-elected government.

"Pending that, neither government (led by Ravalomanana or Ratsiraka) is qualified to sit on the OAU/AU," he said.

The envisaged Peace and Security Council of the AU will be mandated with ensuring security on the continent.

It is expected to have the power to intervene, or recommend intervention to the Heads of State Assembly to ensure AU principles and those of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) are met.

Nepad hopes to attract billions of dollars in investment, trade and aid by commiting African states to democracy and good governance.

However, African civil bodies meeting on the sidelines of preparatory arrangements questioned leaders' willingness to be held accountable.

Organs dealing with accountability had been moved to the backburner in the formation of the AU, Ugandan civic leader Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem told reporters.

"We are urging the leaders to speed up the people-friendly institutions."

Abdul-Raheem also called for more transparency in envisaged mechanisms to compel African states to practice good governance. Such peer review processes should be open to input from civil society.

"Otherwise, it is going to be a situation of self-policing ... of leaders patting each other on the back," said Abdul-Raheem, general-secretary of the Pan African Movement in Kampala.

- SAPA