ADDIS ABABA (AFP) – African
Union leaders chose Benin’s
President Thomas Boni Yayi
Sunday as the 54-member
bloc’s new chairman, at a
two-day summit hoped to
help resolve multiple crises
facing the continent.
Boni Yayi, who succeeded
Equatorial Guinea’s President
Teodoro Obiang Nguema AU
chairman, said he wanted to
“ensure that peace comes
back our continent,” as he
accepted the post with
“humility” for “the high
responsibility.”
“We shall continue to work
hand in glove to ensure that
we consolidate all what we
have achieved so far,” Boni
Yayi said, an economist who
is not expected to rock the
boat in his new post, a
largely ceremonial position.
War-torn Somalia, oil
disputes between Sudan and
South Sudan, violence in
Nigeria and riots in Senegal
in response to the
president’s determination to
cling onto power, are also
expected to be addressed in
sideline talks.
“The development of our
continent is in our hands my
dear presidents…it is in unity
and cohesion that our
continent will ensure its
development,” Boni Yayi
added, urging peace in
Sudan and South Sudan, the
Sahel region and in Nigeria.
The AU chairmanship rotates
among African leaders and is
held for one year, but intense
lobbying continues ahead of
a vote Monday for the top
job, the head of the bloc’s
executive arm, the AU
Commission.
On Monday, the 18th
ordinary summit will chose
in a secret ballot whether
South Africa’s Home Affairs
Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-
Zuma will take over from
incumbent Jean Ping. No
woman has held the AU
Commission post.
South Africa said Saturday it
was optimistic Dlamini-Zuma,
former wife of President
Jacob Zuma, can unseat
Gabon’s Ping, who was first
elected in 2008.
“Government remains
optimistic that Minister
Dlamini-Zuma will receive the
necessary votes,” South
Africa’s foreign ministry said
in a statement.
Sources close to Ping say he
is confident of re-election,
counting on support from
French-speaking West and
Central Africa countries.
But Dlamini-Zuma, 62, has
launched a tough campaign
and has the backing of the
15-member Southern African
Development Community.
Pretoria has been lobbying
hard across the continent to
drum up the two thirds of
the vote needed.
AU leaders, who gathered in
their sleek new headquarters
— a $200m highrise centre
built and donated by the
Chinese government — were
meeting for their first
summit since the death of
the bloc’s founder Moamer
Kadhafi.
After a year that saw the AU
faced with a post-election
crisis in Ivory Coast as well as
the Arab Spring revolutions,
Obiang summed up his time
in office by accusing
“external powers” of trying
to “perpetuate their
influence” in Africa.
“Africa should not remain
indifferent to external
interference. Africa should
not be questioned with
regards to democracy,
human rights, governance
and transparency in public
administration,” he said.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-
moon said the Arab Spring
was a “a reminder that
leaders must listen to their
people.”
“Events proved that
repression is a dead end.
Police power is no match to
people power seeking
dignity and justice,” he said,
also urging African leaders
must also respect gay rights.
Homosexuality is illegal in
most African countries.
“One form of discrimination
ignored or even sanctioned
by many states for too long
has been discrimination
based on sexual orientation
or gender identity,” Ban said.
The African leaders will also
discuss Somalia, where the
AU has a 10,000-strong force
protecting the country’s
fragile Western-backed
government from the Al-
Qaeda-linked Shebab militia.
Regions of war-torn Somalia
remains in the grip of a dire
famine, but Ping said he was
optimistic for the future.
“Never before have the
prospects of peace in
Somalia appeared so real,”
he told the opening
ceremony.
Insecurity in the Sahel
region, where Al-Qaeda
linked fighters also operate
in several countries, will also
be on the agenda.
Discussions are also
expected on Senegal, where
riots erupted Friday after
opposition supporters
reacted to a court decision
that President Abdoulaye
Wade could run for a third
term.
A bitter dispute between
Sudan and South Sudan over
oil pipeline transit fees,
heightening tensions
between the former civil war
enemies, is also hoped to be
addressed.
Ping urged the two parties
to reach a deal.
“Sudan and South Sudan…
should in the supporting
interest of the people
conclude in earnest the
negotiations on the post-
cessation arrangements,” he
said.

Truly, regardless of who holds sway at the helm of affairs, i sincerely hope peace and quiet returns to this continent. its been a long tortuous journey down this hazardous road.