“The extraordinary union showed by ECOWAS is even a lesson to the world”, he said, echoing statements earlier by outgoing AU Commission Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma also applauding ECOWAS “for making Africa proud”.
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“I think that one we’re going to leave that until we have more chance to discuss it”, said Johnson-Sirleaf. ECOWAS defended the values and principles of the African Union by the quality of your intervention in The Gambia.
Dlamini-Zuma, the ex-wife of South African President Jacob Zuma, is aware that she will not get a reply from Morocco, as such a message would amount to acknowledging that Western Sahara is not an integral part of the North African kingdom. The bloc is largely of the view that the ICC has been used as a tool to persecute those African leaders the West wants to remove from office. It will be up to member states and her successors to implement it.
The leader of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas and the Cuban Deputy President Salvador Valdes Mesa were some of the invited guests attending the AU Summit.
Starting with the Clinton administration, the United States began to increasingly focus on Africa.
The President said the improved governance in Africa has also led to impressive gains in the critical goal of reducing maternal mortality rate which has decreased by 49 percent.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres welcomed refugees to Africa, with a sly dig at the U.S, stating: “African borders remain open for those in need of protection when so many borders are being closed, even in the most developed countries in the world”, he said. “Our greatest tribute to him will be to continue the friendship and solidarity with Cuba and its people”, Dr. Zuma indicated.
The question of Morocco’s re-admission was also divisive, although by Monday evening, two delegates leaving the talks said it had the support of 39 nations, enough to provide a guarantee. The tradition had been a way of balancing power since the Organisation of African Unity days.
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The AU was supposed to pick a new leader in July a year ago but the election was postponed following three rounds of voting after candidates failed to garner the required number of votes.
