AFRICA - 12th African Union Summit ends a day late

Addis Ababa (Agenzia Fides) – The 12th Summit of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa (capital of Ethiopia and AU headquarters), has ended a day late.
The decision to prolong the Summit was taken following the strong opposition among African Heads of State regarding the proposal made by Libyan leader Gheddafi, of the formation of a “United States of Africa.” It is a project meant to transform the current African Union into a confederation of independent states united in a common foreign and economic policy. Gheddafi's recent election as President of the AU has sparked a debate that has led to the 1-day prolongation of the Summit.
Gheddafi, as President of the African Union, has 1 year's time to convince those who are skeptical to support his plan.
The Libyan leader has managed to reach an accord on the transformation of the African Union into the African Union Authority. It is the executive part of the Union, which now holds a more wide reaching decision-making power, to favor the process of the continent's unification.
South African President Kgalema Motlanthe has mentioned in an interview that the proposal to reinforce the African Union is to be in consideration only in the course of the next three months. “The objective is that of reinforcing and widening the functions and responsibility of the Authority,” the South African President said.
During the Summit, tensions were observed between the Libyan leader and several African Heads of State. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has proposed that the AU leadership be turned into a troika, so as to diminish Gheddafi's influence as President of the Union, a role that – in reality – now holds little power.
Thus, two camps are taking shape: the countries who like Libya call for an accelerated unification, affirming that this is the only path for a continent torn apart by war and drought; and on the other hand, there are countries like Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Kenya who propose a gradual integration, affirming that an acceleration of the process could lead to even bigger problems than the ones yet unresolved. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 5/2/2009)