June 12, 2011
A university professor says he expects U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to urge the African Union [AU] to be proactive in resolving conflicts on the continent at a meeting scheduled for the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, today [Monday].
“I expect that is going to be one of the central messages that Mrs. Clinton is likely to take to the African Union leadership,” said Professor Kabiru Mato, director of the political science department at the University of Abuja in Nigeria.
He says the continental body lacks what he described as the necessary tools to decisively deal with conflicts on the continent.
“The African Union itself is seriously handicapped in terms of its capacity to address very pressing continental problems that manifest themselves in terms of the protracted conflicts in some of the countries,” said Mato.
He also said the continental body lacks the capacity to “reinforce” decisions it often takes to resolve conflicts, including the ongoing crisis in Libya and the escalating tensions in Sudan.
While in Ethiopia, Secretary Clinton is scheduled to meet Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
She is also expected to focus on regional issues when she visits the African Union (AU) headquarters and meets with AU Chairperson Jean Ping, in addition to holding bilateral meetings.
She will also meet with civil society to draw attention to their innovative and enterprising work.
Mato said it is unclear if Secretary Clinton’s message will have the desired impact on the leadership of the Africa Union. Read more »
Source: Voice of America, by Peter Clottey
A university professor says he expects U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to urge the African Union [AU] to be proactive in resolving conflicts on the continent at a meeting scheduled for the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, today [Monday].
 |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talks with Zambia's President Rupiah BandaPhoto AP |
He says the continental body lacks what he described as the necessary tools to decisively deal with conflicts on the continent.
“The African Union itself is seriously handicapped in terms of its capacity to address very pressing continental problems that manifest themselves in terms of the protracted conflicts in some of the countries,” said Mato.
He also said the continental body lacks the capacity to “reinforce” decisions it often takes to resolve conflicts, including the ongoing crisis in Libya and the escalating tensions in Sudan.
While in Ethiopia, Secretary Clinton is scheduled to meet Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
She is also expected to focus on regional issues when she visits the African Union (AU) headquarters and meets with AU Chairperson Jean Ping, in addition to holding bilateral meetings.
She will also meet with civil society to draw attention to their innovative and enterprising work.
Mato said it is unclear if Secretary Clinton’s message will have the desired impact on the leadership of the Africa Union. Read more »
Source: Voice of America, by Peter Clottey
No comments:
Post a Comment