African Union - The African Mirror

Oct

2022

African Union chair calls for Ethiopia truce, peace talks

THE chair of the African Union called for an immediate ceasefire in Ethiopia's Tigray region and urged parties in the two-year-old conflict there to agree to direct peace talks. Moussa Faki said he was following reports of escalating violence in Tigray with grave concern. "The chairperson strongly calls for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire and the resumption of humanitarian services," the AU said in a statement. AU-led peace talks proposed earlier this month were delayed for logistical reasons. Getachew Reda, a spokesperson for the Tigray forces, called the AU statement welcome if overdue "in light of the extremely alarming humanitarian crisis unfolding as…

Apr

2022

By The African Mirror

Why African nations’ support for UN action on Russia/Ukraine is so mixed

NEWS

TIM COCKS WESTERN powers seeking to isolate Russia over Ukraine are disappointed at what they see as lukewarm support from African nations at the U.N. general assembly - where their 54 votes form a bloc large enough to swing resolutions. The Ukraine war comes at a time of heightened rivalry between the West, China and Russia over Africa's natural resources, trade and security ties. Below are some reasons for the continent's divided stance: HEARTS AND MINDS On the day of the invasion, February 24, the African Union unequivocally called on Russia to respect "the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of…

Apr

2022

By The African Mirror

Somali leaders at odds over expulsion of AU envoy

NEWS

SOMALIA'S prime minister expelled the African Union representative because of "acts incompatible with his status" but the president rejected the order, signalling a new rift between the leaders of the Horn of Africa nation. The power struggle between Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble and President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed is widely seen as distracting the government from fighting an Islamist insurgency and last year fed fears of clashes within the military. African Union peacekeeping troops help the government fight the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militant group. Roble's office said the African Union representative, Francisco Madeira, must leave within 48 hours. "The…

Apr

2022

By The African Mirror

COVAX, African Union decline to buy more doses of Moderna’s COVID shots

COVID-19

COVAX, the global project to share COVID-19 vaccines, and the African Union have declined options to buy additional doses of Moderna's shot, as developing nations struggle to allocate supplies. The global alliance did not exercise the option for 166 million doses of the shot for the third quarter of 2022, as well for 166 million doses in the fourth quarter, which expired on April 1, a Moderna spokesperson said. COVAX, which is backed by Gavi, the World Health Organization and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, is struggling to place more than 300 million doses, Reuters reported in February. Moderna and…

Apr

2022

By The African Mirror

Sudan threatens to expel UN rep

NEWS

SUDAN'S military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has threatened to expel the United Nations' special representative, accusing him of overstepping his mandate. "We heard his slander the other day, lying, blatantly lying," Burhan said in a speech at a military graduation on Friday. "If you overstep your mandate, we will put you out of Sudan." The comments come days after U.N. representative Volker Perthes gave an update to the Security Council on efforts in Sudan, where he commented on the country's economic turmoil, violence against protesters and priorities for a transition to elections. Perthes' mission has involved holding a series…

Mar

2022

By The African Mirror

AU condemns ill treatment of Africans in Ukraine

WORLD

THE African Union (AU) said that it was disturbed by reports that African citizens in Ukraine are being refused the right to cross borders to safety as they try to flee the conflict in Ukraine. Thousands of African and other foreign nationals, particularly students, have been scrambling to leave Ukraine following Russia's invasion. But as hundreds of thousands throng to Ukraine's borders, overwhelming authorities in neighbouring countries, reports have emerged that Africans are being treated differently and sometimes prevented from leaving. Senegal's President Macky Sall speaks at a news conference on the second day of a European Union (EU) African…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

Britain’s non-recognition of Africa-administered vaccines regrettable – AU

COVID-19

AYENAT MERSIE and GEORGE OBULUTSA THE African Union's (AU) top health official called Britain's lack of recognition for coronavirus vaccines administered in Africa regrettable, saying it sends a confusing public health message. England announced last week that it would expand the list of countries from which it recognises vaccines, adding 17 others beyond the initial list of the United States and Europe. None of those countries are in Africa. The British government sets coronavirus policy for England, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are in charge of their own rules. "We regret that the UK would take this position. We…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

‘Give vaccines to Africa, ditch unproven third shot’

COVID-19

TIM COCKS RICH nations would do better to send vaccines to Africa to help fight the global COVID-19 pandemic rather than hoarding them for third-dose booster shots that scientific evidence does not back, the African Union's (AU) top health official said on Thursday. Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) director John Nkengasong told a news conference he was baffled some rich countries were disregarding World Health Organization (WHO) advice to hold off from booster shots until more people were fully vaccinated worldwide. "The problem we have with the third doses is: we have not seen enough science…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

“Let’s transform the fortunes of all Africans”

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER AFRICANS, including those in the diaspora, should use the experience garnered in the fight against COVID-19 to manage future pandemics, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said. In his remarks at the 1st Africa-Caricom Summit Heads of States and Government, Ramaphosa said the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the value and the necessity of confronting challenges together. Ramaphosa, a former chairperson of the African Union, said: “This pandemic has demonstrated the value and the necessity of confronting challenges together. From the onset of the pandemic, we developed a united African continental response strategy, established a special COVID-19 Response…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

Successes of African Human Rights Court undermined by resistance from states

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Human Rights Court) holds great promise in protecting human rights and ensuring justice on the continent. But it operates amid resistance by states and this threatens its effectiveness and very existence. LILIAN CHENWI, Professor of Law, University of the Witwatersrand The idea of a regional human rights court surfaced at the 1961 African Conference on the Rule of Law held in Lagos, Nigeria. African jurists at the conference called on African governments to create “a court of appropriate jurisdiction” that would be “available for all persons under the jurisdiction of the…