Ethiopia lauds successful completion of AU Summit

Addis Ababa, July 17 (WIC) – Ethiopia lauded the successful completion of the 19th African Union Summit which concluded on July 16, 2012 despite short period for preparation.

The AU Summit normally rotates among member states and the 19th AU Summit was originally scheduled to be hosted by Malawi. But the Summit was moved to Ethiopia in June after Malawi blocked the attendance of Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Despite the short period for preparation, we have pulled all our efforts and experience to successfully host the summit,” Ambassador Dina Mufti, spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), told WIC. “This has been very well appreciated by the delegates as well.”

The summit, which was held under the theme Boosting Intra-Africa Trade was attended by over 30 Heads of States and Prime Ministers. Ethiopia was represented by a team led by Hailemariam Desalegn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, after Prime Minister Meles Zenawi failed to attend due to illness.

Ambassador Dina expressed hope that Ethiopia’s bid to host next year’s African Union Summit which would coincide with the organization’s 50 years anniversary would get an acceptance.

Trade between African countries and security within the continent were the main agendas discussed by leaders of the continent.

Meanwhile, one of the high-points on the 19th Summit was the election, on Sunday, of the South African Nkosozana Dlamini Zuma as chairperson of the AU Commission. She is the first women and South African to assume that post.

The outgoing chairman, the Gabonese Jean Ping, was granted the title of honorific chairperson of the AU Commission, and the Kenyan Erastus Mwencha was re-elected as Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission.

Ambassador Konjit Sinegiorgis of Ethiopia missed out on the post of the commissioner for Peace and Security Council of the AUC as the Executive Council re-elected the Algerian Ramtane Lamamra for a second term.

The other elected commissioners included Aisha L. Abdullahi (Nigeria) for Political Affairs; Elham Mahmoud, (Egypt ) for Infrastructure and Energy; Mustapha S. Kaloko (Sierra Leone) for Social Affairs;  Fatima H. Acyl (Chad) for Trade and Industry; Rhoda P. Tumsiime for Rural Economy and Agriculture.

The Executive Council postponed the election of the commissioners for Human Resources, Science and Technology and for Economic Affairs.