AU Monitor Weekly Roundup

This week's AU Monitor brings you updates and analyses from the 10th Ordinary Session of the African Union, where President John Agyekum Kufuor ends his term as Chairman of the African Union this week. President Kufuor is acknowledged for his many accomplishments and the progress that the AU has made during his tenure.

Lybian leader Mouammar Kaddafi is hosting a five-nation mini summit for African leaders ahead of the upcoming AU Summit. Also in preparation for the Summit, the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) of the AU member states opened its session, where participants will focus on important issues, including budgetary issues, contributions from member states and the problem of staff hiring for the Commission.

In other AU news, Sholain Govender provides in-depth reflections on the past, present, and future of the African Union. Also, Ousseynou Guèye reports on the audit of the African Union, noting that it reveals serious inadequacies of the organization that prevent it from reaching its goals. Lastly, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Professor Alpha Oumar Konare urged AU Foreign Ministers to insure implementation of principles adopted by Member States, including democracy, good governance, and gender equality. Chairperson Konare also showed concern about non-indifference, insisting that member countries assist one another during times of crises.

In peace and security news, the capability of the joint UN-African Union Peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has been thrown into question, following an attack earlier this month. Currently the mission is vulnerable to such attacks due to lack of proper equipment, particularly helicopters. Further, during a recent meeting of the AU Executive Council, Senegal expressed concern that the crises in Kenya was not on the agenda and asked the council to "breaks its silence on the issue".

In women's news, Solidarity for African Women's Rights (SOAWR) held its Review and Agenda Setting Meeting recently under the theme: "Building an Accountable African Union: Perspectives of the African Women's Movement". Also, the AU has commissioned a new report to study the role of female child soldiers in conflicts in Africa. Litha Musyimi-Ogana, Director of AU's Gender Development Directorate stated that "We need an African solution to the crisis and women have proved to be the best in post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation". Lastly, Ethiopian lawyer Meaza Ashenafi says that African governments have failed to domesticate gender equality laws into national policies and notes that "Irregularities in adapting and implementing various laws and agreements regarding women's rights and gender equality in Africa is a threat to the proposed union government of Africa."

Finally, Hiruy Amanuel analyses the phrase "ethnic politics", stating that appealing to ethnicity is sub-national, narrow and even dangerous", and can inhibit attempts at Pan-African unity.