The 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) convened here early this week following a year that had been exceptional in many respects. It was a year of uprisings that toppled dictators. A few of the challenges have been removed, yet the major ones still remain, reports Merga Yonas.
The year 2011 witnessed a glimpse of hope for Africa as some of their ironfisted dictators were obliterated by the popular uprising that burst out in North Africa. The 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) also missed some of the ostentatious leaders at the summit for the first time.
This includes, ex-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was influencing the continental organization for over four decades and is believed to be its major financier. Public observers and some analysts have also noticed that the Libyan leader liked to steal the show at recent African Union Summits before his demise. With theatrical and at times bizarre entrances, long-winded, ostentatious speeches and his well-known liking for dressing up, Gaddafi used to gobble up media coverage and bemused his fellow leaders.
Other front figure in playing major role from the North were ex-Egyptian Leader Hosni Mubarak, who ruled the country for 30 years and Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia who stayed in power for 23 years. Three of the ten longest-serving leaders had fallen last year.
According to Africa News blog, Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea (32), Jose Santos of Angola (32), Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe (31), Paul Biya of Cameroon (29) and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda (25), King Mswati III of Swaziland (24) and Blaise Campore of Burkina Fasso (24) are still going strong, and must be wondering whose turn it is next.
Though it may seem that the year has also managed to peacefully end the referendum of South Sudan, the problems between the two countries still exists. Moreover, the situation in Somalia remains volatile and the same thing is true in Egypt and Libya. West Africa is also seeing its share of hysteria with the post-election crisis in Côte d’Ivoire and terrorism in Nigeria persisting.
“In Somalia, not only young Burundians and Ugandans, but also Kenyans and Ethiopians are fighting alongside their Somali brothers and sisters and have made the supreme sacrifice in attempting to secure peace and reconciliation,” Jean Ping, ex-chairperson of AU reiterated during his speech at the summit.
Not only the problem in Somalia but also disagreements between the Sudan and South Sudan and the bumpy relationship and tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea are enduring. Problems of peace and security, humanitarian crisis, drought in the Horn of Africa and human trafficking are entangling the continent.
“Our people continue to suffer greatly due to the persistence of conflicts in different parts of the continent,” Ping asserted. “Their [African country’s] aspiration for peace and their struggle for a better life should continue to inspire our actions.”
