The African Union (AU) Commission is meeting in Accra today to hold a Reflection Forum on unconstitutional changes of government on the continent.
The forum, which is jointly organised by the government and the AU Commission, is to enable the Heads of State to deliberate on the recent military take-overs in some African countries and the proffer solutions to them.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday ahead of the forum, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, bemoaned the four successful military take-overs that had occurred within a year in the continent.
These “new wave” for the first time, he said, had resulted in four countries suspended from the activities of the AU.
“It is important that because of these contexts… we have to address these issues together from the perspective of a multi-stakeholder approach as well as the in-depth analysis of the situation,” he said.
“I want to assure you that the goal of the forum is to reflect on this trend and to proffer structured solution. The context is very clear and no excuse will be acceptable for a change of government that is undemocratic,” he added.
He disclosed that the event would be held in seven sessions and will “probe into the lessons and critical outcomes of the past military experience, particularly in the 80s and 90s and the transition.”
Ambassador Adeoye further said the forum would feed into the extraordinary summit in Malabo scheduled for May.
The event
A Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, said the forum would deliberate and reshape strategies to promote constitutionalism and rule of law towards entrenching democracy and inclusive governance, all for the enhancement of peace, security and stability in Africa.
“In a reflective manner, it would take a look at the Constitutive Acts amended in January 2007 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a catalyst for building a culture of peace and political stability in Africa. The forum will explore the issues in the Constitutive Act and critically access its relevance for the process of democratisation in Africa, taking into consideration the dynamics in the political atmosphere in the continent,” he added.
About The Author
