Admin l Wednesday, February 01, 2017
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – The African Union, AU has put a summary ban on ministers representing absentee Head of States from addressing the house during AU meeting.
Speaking at the 28TH Ordinary session of the AU meeting during which Morocco was formerly readmitted after 33 years of withdrawing her membership in protest for AU’s recognition of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, her former territory as a sovereign nation, members stressed the fact that the gathering was meant for Head of State and not ministers .
It said Ministers representing Head of States would no longer be allowed to address the gathering made up of Head of States from other countries.
Recall that President of Guinea, President Alpha Conde has also been elected as Chairperson of the African Union.
H.E Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda was elected First Vice-Chairperson, while H.E Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria was elected Second Vice-Chairperson.
His Majesty King MSWATI III, of the Kingdom of Swaziland was made Third Vice- Chairperson.
During the handing over ceremony, the outgoing Chairperson of the union, President Idriss Debby thanked his peers and the AU Commission for the support they gave him during his mandate.
He commended the AU Commission under the leadership of H.E. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma for the good work in pursuing the transformation reforms under Agenda 2063 and for the support she gave him during his mandate.
President Debby said he had the privilege as Chair of the Union to travel all over the continent and beyond with the view of putting Africa First and presenting the developmental goals pursued by the continent. “It was an honour to guide our Organisation to implement its vision of the Africa We Want.”
