AU summit in Kigali ends with new resolve to foster efficiency, self-reliance

The 27^th African Union Summit in Kigali closed Monday with a commitment to fast track initiatives designed to make the African Union Commission (AUC) financially independent.

This, the summit concluded, will make the body more efficient and galvanise the continent’s ambition to become a truly peaceful, independent and prosperous bloc.

The renewed commitment was announced at the end of the 27th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Kigali during which African leaders made key decisions pertaining to the envisioned transformation of the continent through a blueprint known as Agenda 2016.

Among the major decisions made is the adoption of a new funding model for the AUC, which will see all the 54 member countries contribute some $1.2 billion to the Union’s coffers every year through levying 0.2 per cent tax on eligible imports.

The funds will be directly sent to the AU secretariat, which would use it in financing operational costs as well as development programmes and peace support operations.

Earlier, it had been observed that overreliance on foreign aid meant that that the continent often intervened too late in conflict-torn regions while the continent also had little influence on the nature and extent of intervention.

Speaking at the closure of the summit, the Chairperson of the African Union, President Idriss Deby of Chad, highlighted the importance of the decision on the new financing model whose implementation will start next year.

“It’s a brave decision that requires sacrifice from all member states given the current financial situation. But it’s a price worth paying, we need to give our organisation more means and make it more credible,” he said.

He said that the summit in Kigali took place in a warm and fraternal environment where the leaders understood each other, worked together, and agreed on important issues.

“The Kigali summit has been a great testimony to our common will to overcome the existing challenges and shape a future built on concrete actions and efficiency,” he said.

Former African Development Bank president Donald Kaberuka and former Nigerian leader Oluseguni Obasanjo played a key role in shaping the new financing model under which membership contributions will now be channelled through special accounts in central banks, instead of the state treasury, to help prevent defaulting and delayed payments.

At the Kigali summit, African Heads of State and Government also tasked Rwandan President Paul Kagame to lead a new effort to reform the AU Commission and the Union to make them more efficient.

Addressing a post-Summit news conference at the Kigali Convention Centre, President Kagame welcomed the task, adding that he will consult with his colleagues throughout the restructuring process.

“I think this is a clear-cut task that has been handed to us and as foot soldiers of our continent we can’t run away from responsibilities, we will be able to do that within our abilities and based on consultations with the Heads of State and Government,” he said.

Kagame, who was lauded at the summit for his leadership in Rwanda’s remarkable transformation in recent years, including in the area of gender equality and women empowerment for which he was given a continental award in the build-up to the Summit, said he will soon get down to work.

“We have to fulfill (this responsibility) in the best way we can,” he said.

The Summit also discussed the security situations in Burundi and South Sudan and setting up a special fund to fight against terrorism on the continent.

Concerning security crises in Burundi, South Sudan, Mali, Libya and other conflict-torn parts of the continent, President Deby said that the AU will continue to engage leaders in those countries with view to finding a lasting solution.

“Our task is to see to it that peace and security are restored on the entire continent,” he told journalists.

At the Summit, the leaders also launched the long-awaited African passport, with the first two passports going to Presidents Deby, the current AU chair, and President Kagame, the host.

“It’s a simple travel document but it sends out a big message,” said Deby. “It is now up to individual member states to make it available and accessible to all our citizens,” Deby said of the African passport.

But the Chadian leader warned: “We still have a long way to go for Africa to be more unified, stronger, stable, prosperous, and most importantly sovereign”.

The Kigali Summit, however, did not agree on the next person to occupy the position of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to replace  South African Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who will not be seeking to another term.