‘Union of African states now’

(PANA)-- Foreign ministers gathered for talks on the change of the African Union (AU) Commission into an Authority should focus on giving this proposed government real power, the Libyan Foreign minister, Moussa Koussa, said on Thursday.

Koussa, the Chairman of the African Union’s council of ministers, known as the executive council, said discussions on the formation of the Authority should focus on giving it real powers, not just a change of name. African foreign ministers kicked off a three-day meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to discuss a $ 200 million budget for the AU, among other things.

The transformation of the AU Commission into an Authority of the Union has also taken a central part of the discussions.

‘We need to have the AU structures into this Authority. If these are not implemented, it would only mean a change of name,’ Koussa said.

The AU is currently made up of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), which gathers the 53 ambassadors accredited to the AU. The ambassadors are mostly responsible for the development of details that are then examined by the executive council, the substantive cabinet of the AU.

Libya, which current holds the AU presidency, says the main organs responsible for the operations of the AU should become part of the newly created AU Authority to make it effective. Koussa said the change from the Commission into an Authority should provide the foundation for Africa to move towards the formation of the United States of Africa.

African leaders have given themselves up to 2017 to formally declare the United States of Africa. According to Koussa, a United States of Africa will provide Africans with a stronger position to fight poverty within the continent.

Libya says the AU institutions, which include the PSC tasked with monitoring the continent’s stability and the recently signed pacts on non aggression, should also become part of efforts to strengthen the Authority. These pacts provide for the creation of a common defense force for Africa.

But diplomats say most African countries fear the prospect of consolidating power into the hands of one country or institution, which would have overall control for the army.

‘I do not think it is possible for the countries to agree on the formation of a common army, if this army would be under the command of one country. Do you imagine that South Africa would offer its army to be commanded by another President,’ an African diplomat, who did not want to be named, told PANA.

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