Although the theme for this years AU Summit was supposed to revolve around maternal and infant health, the issue of Somalia quickly became a priority. One week before the Summit was due to start, a series of bombings targeted at innocent civilians watching the World Cup occurred in Kampala. These incidents were subsequently found to have links with Somalia. The AU has agreed to deploy an additional 2000 troops to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
Other issues, such as climate change, NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development), and of course, maternal and child health were discussed. For a more detailed account, see here. Here is a summary of issues discussed and the measures agreed to address them (from New Vision Online):
Bashir and the International Criminal Court
Mutharika said the AU asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to suspend its indictments against Sudanese president Omar El-Bashir for one year as the union investigated the allegations against him. The ICC issued two arrest warrants against Bashir, accusing him of crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur. The latest warrant was issued last month. Mutharika asked if the court had a right to try Bashir, when Sudan is not a member of the ICC.
AMISOM’s mandate in Somalia unchanged
Mutharika said the UPDF together with the Burundi forces making up the AMISOM made strident gains against the Al-Shabaab terrorists. He appealed for co-operation from international bodies like the UN, saying the problem was no longer for Africa alone. He added that the recent terrorist bombings in Kampala were meant to discourage them from attending the summit, but their attendance had shown that terrorism has no place in today’s world. Asked whether the summit had changed the mandate of AMISOM from mere peacekeeping to combat, he said they had not debated it but it would be decided by the Peace and Security Council. Ping added that changing the mandate would call for new equipment like helicopters, which are not available. Guinea and Djibouti willing to contribute troops, he added.
Maternal, infant and child health
Ping said the members agreed to form a group to monitor and report on the progress of maternal, infant and child health. Mutharika said the summit had agreed to place the welfare of women and safe motherhood at the forefront of their development agendas this year. “If we improve the welfare of women, access to food and health care, maternal mortality will significantly reduce,” he said.
Infrastructure
The summit, he added, also launched a programme for infrastructural development in Africa and adopted the African charter on maritime transport. It also elected human rights commissioners, a committee on child health, and a judge to the African court of justice.
Other issues
A report on conflict resolution in Somalia, Darfur, Madagascar and other crisis states was presented to the heads of state. A report on the fight against corruption and others on drugs, and on coup de tats on the continent were also presented. Mutharika said he believed in the next five years Africa will grow enough food to feed itself and supply to the rest of the world. “Presently, Africa uses 10% of arable land whereas in Europe it is 100%. We have rivers, lakes which only need harnessing for irrigation. We have taken a decision that five years from now no child should die of hunger and malnutrition, or go to bed hungry,” he said. On climate change, Mutharika observed that although Africa does not contribute to greenhouse emissions, it is the most affected and called for re-afforestation along river banks.
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