AU has failed Africa: Mbeki
Former President Thabo Mbeki(SABC)
Former president Thabo Mbeki has accused the African Union (AU) of letting down the continent, because of petty disagreements between heads of state, the Sunday Times reported.
Mbeki criticised African leaders, including President Jacob Zuma, in an article to be published in The Thinker magazine, according to the newspaper. Mbeki’s criticisms included South Africa, Gabon, and Nigeria agreeing to military action against Libya, contrary to an AU decision; the failure to acknowledge the AU’s anniversary at its Addis Ababa summit in July; and Africa falling off the world economic development agenda.
The former president was also critical of the summit’s lopsided focus on the contest for the AU commission chair, and said African leaders had not assessed the AU’s impact on the continent since its establishment.
The focus on this leadership contest was reflective of the malaise poisoning the African body politic, Mbeki said.
He cited former liberation movements’ inability to bring about meaningful social change once they moved into government as the cause of many of Africa’s weaknesses in the past 10 years.
Category: Africa News
