All’s well as AU starts peaceful year

• African leaders can finally sit down for serious development talks this time round

As the African Union prepares for its summit that opens on Monday in Addis Ababa, the agenda speaks volumes.

It is one of the most peaceful openings ever for Africa. There is no war or conflict that can be said to be boiling over.

Talking of expectations, at this time last year, the mood was totally different. Africa was on the threshold of destiny as the first black president sampled the splendour of the US White House.

The AU sent a congratulatory message to President Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan, over his “resounding victory and assumption of the High Office of President of the United States of America.’’

A year later, the agenda is totally different. Mr Obama is now facing a major challenge in mid-term elections later this year. He has only visited two African countries — Egypt and Ghana — and, back home, his party’s majority in both houses of Congress is clearly endangered.

Away from the US, Africa can finally settle down to some serious development talk. The AU is now set to create a continental scientific award that will go to two top scholars.

Judging from past summits, the biggest news would be if the AU focused on the real agenda for the meeting that centres on Communication Technologies in Africa. As happens at AU summits, the agenda is always replaced by bread and butter issues on peace and security.

This time, there should be no such excuse. AU commission chairman Jean Ping is already in the Madagascar capital Antananarivo selling a new plan to coup leader Andry Rajoelina that would allow power-sharing with ousted president Marc Ravalomanana.

Madagascar remains suspended as an AU member. But, Madagascar is not a totally lost case, it is simply a matter of principle. The country functions and plans to hold elections in March.

Discussing plans for the summit that climaxes as presidents arrive late in the week, Ambassador Patrick Wamoto, in charge of the Africa Desk at Kenya’s Foreign Ministry, said the country’s interest at the meeting will mainly be on peace and security with the focus being Somalia and Sudan.

Issues such as the case of the Jamaican preacher Abdullah al-Faisal, who crossed into the country from Tanzania, will not be discussed.

“Al-Faisal is a bilateral issue. We wanted to get him out and we did,” said Mr Wamoto.

Under AU rules, the summit proceeds on the basis of the agenda and no issues are introduced from the sidelines.

One topic that will be glossed over is the plan for a single government that was being pushed by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi at the last summit.
The AU’s plan is to re-examine its readiness for a single government in 2017.

Says Mr Wamoto: “On regional integration, most countries are for a gradual approach. This issue has been over-played.’’

Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika is likely take over as the new AU chairman.

Mr Mutharika has already been endorsed by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). The summit marks the end of the one year chairmanship of Gaddafi who, true to his radical nature, declared support for Somali pirates the moment he took the seat.

Never took off

Gaddafi also attempted to mediate between Ethiopian and Eritrean leaders, but his attempt to arrange face-to-face talks never took off.
On the positive side though, Gaddafi increased the salaries of AU staff.

This is the year Africa makes history by hosting the World Cup. The continent is at its most peaceful ever. The only major hot spot is Somalia where the government of Sheikh Sharif Ahmed is hanging on a precipice as forces of the radical al-Shabaab and Hizbu Islam advance on the president’s palace while pirates continue to skim millions of dollars from ship-owners off shore.

Henry Owuor is Foreign and Diplomatic Writer, Daily Nation