Amendments of the African Union Constitution
By: Nabil Osman
Chairman, State Information Service

An Extraordinary Conference was held on 3 February, 2003 to deliberate amendments introduced by member states to the Constitutional Law of the African Union.

Debates focused on the term of the President and means of activating AU institutions.

Such issues as armed conflicts and economic conditions on the continent were also discussed.

The close of the foreign ministers meeting saw six amendments approved relating to goals, institutions, summit, commission, accredited languages and representatives' committee.

The motor behind such amendments is to insure the smooth running of the AU. During the meeting members of AU Commission have been elected and decisions adopted to strengthen ties between Diaspora Africans and their counterparts on the continent.

The term of the presidency was further set for a one-year period. Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher led Egypt's delegation to the conference, there to expound his country's stance.

Maher underlined the fact that the international scene was such as to spell danger both to the Middle East region and to Africa.

He further stressed need to preserve Africa's identity and character. Maher was also keen on urging an end to civil wars on the continent.

Egypt, he explained, deemed it essential that peace and security be established throughout Africa to make way for progress and development.

Egyptian support of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), sponsored by AU, is maintained. NEPAD seeks to have Africa catch up with the advanced world.

In Africa's economic integration Cairo conceives the only means to fighting poverty on the black continent.

It is also deemed an instrument by which Africans would counter the current challenges, be they political, economic or social; challenges indeed which the AU has pledged to put high on the top of its priority list.

In view of the above, African Perspective has thus decided on the AU to be the main theme of its 12th edition. Along with its other basic components, the quarterly has deals with such democratic practices as the Kenya and Djibouti.