AU Monitor Weekly Roundup

This week's AU Monitor brings you important updates regarding the African Union's response to the post-election crisis occurring in Kenya.
Immediately following post-election uprisings, the African Union Commission delivered a Communique' on the situation in Kenya and reiterates its "attachment to democratic principles", especially when it pertains to "free, fair, and transparent elections".

Also, AU Chairman Ghanaian President John Kufuor accepted an invitation of Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki to visit Kenya and assess the situation in that country. Chairman Kufuor agreed to make the trip soon, stating that "Kenya had always been a flagship of Africa's rising image and nothing should be done to destroy the country". Further, Chairman Kufuor joined in the mediation efforts following post-election violence in Kenya , urging President Kibaki and opposition leader Odinga to "restrain their supporters to avert further violent clashes which could only lead to the destabilization of the great country, Kenya". Lastly, a Kenyan envoy recently met with Chairman Kufuor in Ghana to discuss strategies for ending the conflicts occurring in Kenya.

In other AU news, in his New Year message, AU Commissioner Konare' encourages continued efforts towards a unified continent, and calls for the continent to develop new alliances, envisioning a multi-dimensional continent. Further, the AU Commission is set to approve the appointments of a new Chairperson and eight new commissioners at its next Heads of State Summit this month in Addis Ababa.
A thirteen-member high-level panel, chosen by AU commissioners at the July Accra summit, conducted an audit of the AU and has produced a report which facilitates political integration on the continent.

Lastly, the AU Commission will hold a Private Sector Forum, with the theme "Africa's Industrial Drive: The Private Sector and Corporate Citizenship". The Forum will focus on ways of strengthening the private sector on the continent as it can play a key role in alleviating poverty and reducing the vulnerability of African countries.

In peace and security news, a UNAMID supplies convoy was recently attacked during a re-supply mission. Further, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged member states to speed up the process of sending units and equipment to UNAMID , which is still thousands of troops short of its intended goal of deploying 20,000 to the Darfur region. General Ki-moon adds that, "a robust and effective UNAMID will contribute towards Darfur's long-term stability".

Leaders of the Pan-African Parliament are calling for the Parliament to shift from its current advisory role to a legislative body, in order to "harmonize national laws across the continent to ensure free trade and common ties in various areas of cooperation to push the development of the continent forward".
The African Development Bank (AfDB) announced the receipt of a record-breaking US $8.9 billion of support for its African Development Fund. With this assistance, the AfDB commits to improving infrastructure, governance and regional integration on the continent.

In regional news, Damas Kanyabwoya provides commentary on the need for the East African Community (EAC) to focus on developing infrastructure and improving trade relations amongst member states, in order to improve the movement of resources and reduce transaction costs within the region.

In economic news, Emmanuel Wetang'ulagi provides analysis on how economic partnership agreements (EPA's) with Europe harm the policy autonomy of African countries, and that the negotiations taking place are "not bound to yield much for developing countries". Lastly, Bamuturaki Musinguzi discusses a paper entitled "The Impact of High Oil Prices on African Countries", which says that high oil prices can lead to a "decrease in output and consumption and to a worsening of the net foreign asset position of such said countries".
Lastly, the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Africa Steering Group has been established by the United Nations to specifically address concerns in Africa.