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National News

African heads of state inaugurate union of 53 African nations modeled on EU

African heads of state July 9 launched the African Union (AU), a body designed to integrate Africa along the lines of the European Union.

"This is a moment of hope for our continent and its peoples," declared South African President Thabo Mbeki, the AU's first chairman.

"We must now defeat poverty, disease and ignorance, and end the senseless wars and conflicts causing so much pain and suffering," he said.

He was speaking as the birth of the union in Durban was celebrated at King's Park stadium before a crowd of 30,000 people with a 21-gun salute, dancing, singing and a plane flyover.

The AU replaces the 39-year-old Organization of African Unity (OAU), which was formed as the continent emerged from colonial rule but whose efforts to end the multiple conflicts in Africa were hindered by its doctrine of non-interference in the affairs of member states.

The AU will establish a Peace and Security Council, based on the U.N. Security Council, which will have a peacekeeping force drawn from African armies to intervene in crimes against humanity.

It will also establish an African parliament, an African Court of Justice, a central bank and, eventually, an African Economic Community with a single currency.

The AU has 53 members — every African nation except Morocco, which withdrew from the OAU in 1985 after the admission of Western Sahara, a territory claimed by Morocco.

But Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana was barred from the meeting after winning a presidential election in December, which the OAU considered illegitimate, even though his victory was confirmed by Madagascar's constitutional court.


Shukan ST: July 19, 2002

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