Addis Ababa | Monday
THE African Union, which is to replace the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in July, on Friday launched an official Internet site at its headquarters in Addis Ababa.
African ministers watched as OAU Secretary-General Amara Essy cut the red ribbon inaugurating the new French and English language websites: www.africa-union.org and www.union-afrique.org.
Arabic and Portuguese language Internet sites are to be launched at a later date.
Essy said one of the problems the OAU faced was poor communication links and the new websites would go some way towards filling the gap, creating direct communication lines among people across Africa.
He said the sites would disseminate the ideas and objectives of the OAU and establish contacts between the parliaments, embassies and universities.
The launch came as OAU ministers began meeting in Ethiopian capital for a third day to discuss setting up key bodies within the African Union, which has existed legally and politically since May 26 last year.
Following the example of the European Union, it is envisaged that it will eventually be an African economic union complete with parliament, central bank, court of justice and common currency. – AFP