The Organisation of African Unity’s (OAU) Council of Ministers began meeting in Durban on Sunday night in preparation for the launch of the African Union, which will replace the 53-member OAU on July 9.
The meeting follows two days of closed sessions by the African ambassadors’ committee, which produced a report on the African Union (AU) for adoption by the ministers’ council.
More than 5 000 ministers, ambassadors and delegates are expected this week in the Indian Ocean port, protected by heavy security, ahead of the AU’s inaugural summit from July 8-10.
The historic summit will mark the replacement of nearly four decades of existence of the OAU by the AU, which will be loosely based on the European Union.
The pan-African organisation will reflect a greater willingness by African governments to be ”mutually scrutinised” and a greater capacity to deal with political and economic challenges, African leaders have proclaimed.
Delegates from African parliaments, regional parliaments and parliamentary forums last week held a two-day meeting in Cape Town ahead of the establishment of the AU.
The role of various African political organisations, including a Pan-African Parliament, was on their agenda.
The Pan Africanist Youth Movement held a weekend conference in Johannesburg to discuss the youth movement’s role in the AU.
They called for the AU, its member governments and business to resource youth development.
In addition to OAU ministerial sessions this week, Durban will host an inaugural African Union Business Summit. South African Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin will open the three-day business summit on Monday.
Business leaders will focus on promoting and expanding intra-African trade and its resolutions will be presented to the AU summit.
Also on Monday, South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma will launch a commemorative stamp in support of the AU inauguration. – Sapa-AFP