{UAH} EU-Africa Summit -Sudan, SADR not invited *First Lady denied visa

EU-Africa Summit hangs in balance •Sudan, SADR not invited •First Lady denied visa

March 25, 2014 Headlines, Top Stories

President Omar al-Bashir

Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter—
THE fourth EU-Africa Summit in Belgium next week hangs in the balance following attempts by Europe to define the political make-up of the African Union and composition of country delegations. The summit is slated for April 2 and 3. The EU has not invited AU member, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir.

It is understood that President Mugabe, the First AU Deputy Chair, is opposed to this arrangement and might not participate in the summit as a result.

SADR is a former Spanish colony in North Africa with most of its territory under Moroccan rule.
It is Africa’s last colony and — ironically — under the domination of a fellow African country.

SADR is recognised by at least 85 countries, and has full diplomatic ties with 40.
It is a full member of the AU, prompting Morocco to pull out of the continental body in 1984 in protest to SADR’s recognition in 1982.
However, Morocco has been invited to the EU-Africa Summit and yet it is not an AU member; while SADR will be absent.

A senior Government official said this had incensed President Mugabe, who questioned where the EU was getting the authority to determine who was an AU member and who was not.

“The EU is trying to dictate who should comprise the delegations of African leaders and even the membership of the AU. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a full member of the AU.

“This is not an AU which has been defined by the EU, but by Africans themselves,” the official said.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Joey Bimha could not be reached for comment yesterday but the AU and EU are expected to meet today and tomorrow over Africa’s concerns.

Further, it emerged that the EU was trying to determine who would be in African delegations amid indications there was a push to deny First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe a visa to enter Belgium.

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