{UAH} Allan/Pojim/WBK: Dr Kazibwe AU election in balance - Daily Monitor:
|
6:46 PM |
No comments |
Dr Kazibwe AU election in balance
KIGALI/KAMPALA- A cloud of uncertainty hovers over the election of a new African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson later this week, after influential members called for the postponement of the polls until "high calibre" applicants are got.
Election of the AU leadership including replacement of the current commissioners is supposed to take place at the ongoing 27th Summit in Kigali. But just days to the voting day, highly placed sources familiar with the matter told Daily Monitor there is a feeling that none of the three candidates in the race has the pedigree to replace outgoing AUC chair and South African politician, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
Sources also indicated that the West African nation's bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has insisted on having the elections deferred to the next AU sitting in January next year in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Ecowas, which comprises 15 States, is leading the opposition.
"Most delegates believe all the candidates who applied for the AUC chair do not qualify despite the fact that submission for candidature closed in March," the source said.
The Ecowas stand makes it difficult for any of the candidates to garner the required two thirds of the total votes. The two thirds rule also applies even when the race has a sole candidate.
Candidates
Uganda's Dr Specioza Kazibwe, also the choice for eastern Africa, faces competition from Agapito Mba Mokuy, 51, the Foreign minister of Equatorial Guinea, also the choice of central Africa and Southern African Development Community and Dr Pelomi Venson-Moitoi, 65, the Foreign Affairs minister of Botswana.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr James Mugume, confirmed that Ecowas has been pushing for the postponement of elections but said not all members approve of it.
"Other regions in Africa think elections should go ahead because the candidates are good and the Constitutive Act and rules of procedure were followed," Mr Mugume said from Kigali.
The SADC bloc, also remains divided over the choice of Botswana's Dr Moitoi. Some SADC members also want the elections deferred for two reasons; Ms Zuma could bounce back if she fails to clinch the top African National Congress (ANC) job as successor to President Jacob Zuma, and also because Dr Moitoi is not likely to win owing to Africa's dislike for Botswana's foreign policy.
Botswana, and basing on findings of international observers, said Uganda's February elections "deeply undermined the norms of best practice governing democratic elections" whereas AU observers gave it a clean bill of health.
Botswana has also maintained an unflinching support for the International Criminal Court loathed by many African leaders who accuse the court of only targeting Africans.
Another candidate
Besides the three candidates in the race who are said to be "below par", recent reports have indicated Algerian Foreign Affairs minister Ramtane Lamamra and former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete were being considered for the job in case the elections are deferred.
No open lobbying for votes is ongoing at the summit but some members from the eastern Africa bloc believe that if the elections are indeed postponed, their chance to head AU will be blown out.
According to the AU's Constitutive Act, the Chairperson shall represent the Union, during his/her tenure with a view to promoting the objectives and principles of Africa.
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment