Africa, its friends and relations unfurled a host of local and global issues at yesterday’s summit of its leaders, presenting a picture of quiet but steady progress on the continent often used as a reference of where the rest of the world has been and should not return.
Stunted infrastructure, preventable disease, feeble economies in a world of common challenges like the global financial slow down, climate change and terrorism were variously mentioned by its leaders and invited guests.
Indeed the guest list – reflected the international nature of the summit and Africa’s own diversity. Speeches came from a representative of the League of Arab Nations, a representative of American President Barack Obama, a message from the Palestinian Authority and Mexico, the host of the next global meeting on climate change.
But despite the optimism of its leaders and shared experiences- like past summits the African Union was punching above its weight.
“ People of Uganda welcome you to your second home” said President Yoweri Museveni in his opening. He then provided a matrix of what he said was Africa’s dilemma- small economies, limited tax bases and treasuries to address issues like maternal and infant mortality.
“ How cannot talk of [maternal and infant mortality] without talking of development in general” he said. He said unless Africa focused on unbundling “strategic bottlenecks” to development including its energy and transport infrastructure- it would not move from the “ Third World to the First”.
Sprinkling his speech with proverbs and personal experiences Mr. Museveni then launched unto security- the issue that has climbed on top of the summit theme on the health of mothers and children.
He said the perpetrators of the 7/11 attacks had largely been apprehended and that interrogations of suspects had yielded good information. On Somalia- he said the attacks of AMISOM- the peacekeeping mission there was an attack on the flag and authority of the African Union.
Top off the tongues of many speakers were the twin issues of terrorism and football- that climaxed tragically on the last day of the World Cup- which also claimed the lives of over 80 Ugandans- thus setting the tone for the 15th Ordinary Session of the African Union.
Most speakers congratulated the South African government represented by Jacob Zuma for the successful hosting of the World Cup.
“ Who are these people [terrorists]? Whose interest do they represent? Where do their loyalties lie? Whose interests do they serve?” asked President Yoweri Museveni about the terrorist threat in Somalia. “ They can and should be defeated” he told his guests.
Mr. Museveni said the terrorists should be “ swept out of Africa to Asia and the middle east” describing their activity as “ colonialism through terrorism”. Despite his comments however the meeting held under a tent by the Lakeside showed not the isolation of Africa and its problems but the encompassing nature of its problems.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon lobbied African leaders on climate change- ahead of the Cancun global conference on the same – while Caribbean leaders urged the AU to end the isolation of Cuba. This was later presented for action by Namibia, supported by South Africa, Libya, Angola and Nigeria.
Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority asked for AU’s help with Palestine’s struggle for independence while USA’s Attorney General Eric Holder and UN Deputy Under-Secretary Angela Kane urged cooperation with the Addis Abba based organization.
Mr. Holder offered help to the African Union- and AMISOM to deal with Al Shabaab.
“ I am told that heads of state in Africa are never late but delayed” said AU Chairman Bingu Wa Mutharika who chaired the speech-making opening that begun over 2 hours late. The summit closes on Tuesday and is expected to make decisions on the East African Standby Force and changes in the mandate of the AMISOM.
