What is the use of the African Union?

[Mzee2000]

Mwanajamii Consultant alisema kwenye ile thread ya Ivory coast.

Hivi wajibu wa AU (African Union) ni upi hasa kwenye issue kama hii ya Ivory Coast?

Ni upuuzi wa hali ya juu kuwa na ''union'' iliyo butu na isiyo na uwezo kwa kutuunganisha kama waafrica

Shame on AU
-----------

Kuna vita Ivory coast, wakimbizi Libya wanasaidiwa na EU, red cross, lakini AU hawaonekani hivi hiki chombo ni chanini?

Mimi nikiwa mshabiki mkubwa wa panafricanism najiuliza, naomba mnisaidie, what should be done to rejuvenite the AU?I am sick and tired!!!!

 

[Akwaba]

I think the fundamental problem with the African Union is it is a weak Union of weak states. It is like a club. The club members are mostly composed of weak democracies and dictatorships. As a result when we see the AU doing something we perceive as pro-active on a African issue it is because they were told to do so. This is why there was no action on Libya, Tunisia, or Egypt. The AU is composed of the current African leaders. In its current form the AU will mirror the average state of African countries and will only become an effective institution after a large majority of countries in Africa are themselves ran by effective governments.

Another approach would be to change the AU.

A first step would be to give the AU a parliament directly elected by African citizens. The next step would be to make the president elected by the parliament. This would make it into a real institution which derives its power from the people rather than corrupt leaders. Right now the AU is too far removed from the African people. Ok some elections would be shady but my hope is on average we would get better representation. In addition many of the elections which take place are not merit based. The concern is more on rotation to ensure members states also get a change to hold certain positions. I mean look at the composition of the peace and security council and you get the point.
3 year term members: Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Zimbabwe.

In their defense they probably modeled it after the UN, another weak institution. However at least in the U.N. the U.S. strong influence which sometimes verges on being a bully gives the institution some semblance of functioning. In Africa no country took on this role.

Next financing must be taken care of. Imagine alot of the AU funds come from Libya. With this in mind how can you expect the institution to be credible and sound. A means of ensuring adequate funding must be found. You can't expect a institution to do anything without its own proper funds. I mean for most interventions they have to first ask the U.S or Europe for money. While Africa's GDP is above $ 2 trillion. Imagine 0.1% of that is $2 billion. The current budget is $250 million.

However I don't see this happening as no country want to give up its sovereignty. I personally have no problem with countries giving up sovereignty if they are proper institutions and representation of the people.

 

[Consultant]

AU yenu imejaa watu kama hawa: The Zimbabwe Situation

 

[Akwaba]

Good point. Even though I consider Museveni an elected dictator. So if anyone tried to unfairly kick him out I would be up in arms even though I consider him a dictator.

Here is picture which drives my earlier point home.

List of African Union member states by political system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Green - Free
Light Brown - Partially Free
Red - UnFree

 

[Mallaba]

Well said Akwaba,
The AU is almost the same as club fulled with gamblings without any mandate on their decision makings as the end of the day they end up on doing nothing.

I think the fundamental problem with the African Union is it is a weak Union of weak states. It is like a club. The club members are mostly composed of weak democracies and dictatorships. As a result when we see the AU doing something we perceive as pro-active on a African issue it is because they were told to do so. This is why there was no action on Libya, Tunisia, or Egypt. The AU is composed of the current African leaders. In its current form the AU will mirror the average state of African countries and will only become an effective institution after a large majority of countries in Africa are themselves ran by effective governments.

Another approach would be to change the AU.

A first step would be to give the AU a parliament directly elected by African citizens. The next step would be to make the president elected by the parliament. This would make it into a real institution which derives its power from the people rather than corrupt leaders. Right now the AU is too far removed from the African people. Ok some elections would be shady but my hope is on average we would get better representation. In addition many of the elections which take place are not merit based. The concern is more on rotation to ensure members states also get a change to hold certain positions. I mean look at the composition of the peace and security council and you get the point.
3 year term members: Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Zimbabwe.

In their defense they probably modeled it after the UN, another weak institution. However at least in the U.N. the U.S. strong influence which sometimes verges on being a bully gives the institution some semblance of functioning. In Africa no country took on this role.

Next financing must be taken care of. Imagine alot of the AU funds come from Libya. With this in mind how can you expect the institution to be credible and sound. A means of ensuring adequate funding must be found. You can't expect a institution to do anything without its own proper funds. I mean for most interventions they have to first ask the U.S or Europe for money. While Africa's GDP is above $ 2 trillion. Imagine 0.1% of that is $2 billion. The current budget is $250 million.

However I don't see this happening as no country want to give up its sovereignty. I personally have no problem with countries giving up sovereignty if they are proper institutions and representation of the people.

 

[geophysics]

Mwanajamii Consultant alisema kwenye ile thread ya Ivory coast.

Hivi wajibu wa AU (African Union) ni upi hasa kwenye issue kama hii ya Ivory Coast?

Ni upuuzi wa hali ya juu kuwa na ''union'' iliyo butu na isiyo na uwezo kwa kutuunganisha kama waafrica

Shame on AU
-----------

Kuna vita Ivory coast, wakimbizi Libya wanasaidiwa na EU, red cross, lakini AU hawaonekani hivi hiki chombo ni chanini?

Mimi nikiwa mshabiki mkubwa wa panafricanism najiuliza, naomba mnisaidie, what should be done to rejuvenite the AU?I am sick and tired!!!!

Nadhani ungeandika what is the role of african union na sio "use of..." maana inanishinda kutafsiri unataka nini

 

[mbongopopo]

Ni kwamba AU ni ya waafrica weusi ambao nchi zao hazina mali sasa zinazosaidia EU USA etc

Umeona wa ulaya wakiingilia IvoryC kama Libya hakuna cha kuwafaidisha likewise Zimbabwe etc

Nchi za Tunisia Egypt etc zipo Africa ila wao wanaziita arab world, arab countries etc kama ni tofauti na black african.

Mie hadi leo sijasikia hata wa ulaya wakiomba AU iingilie wao wakae waangalie, hawawezi sababu wanapata mengi kama Libya, Egypt pia inasaidia re Israeli etc.

Na sasa petroli zimepanda bei na kuzidi sababu ya Libya hivyo AU badala ya kulinda mali ya Africa waoga

Kesho ikianza Nigeria pia wa ulaya wataingilia sababu ya petroli ikiwa Tanzania wataomba AU iingilie

Na hii ndio itaendelea kama kawa

Mwanajamii Consultant alisema kwenye ile thread ya Ivory coast.

Hivi wajibu wa AU (African Union) ni upi hasa kwenye issue kama hii ya Ivory Coast?

Ni upuuzi wa hali ya juu kuwa na ''union'' iliyo butu na isiyo na uwezo kwa kutuunganisha kama waafrica

Shame on AU
-----------

Kuna vita Ivory coast, wakimbizi Libya wanasaidiwa na EU, red cross, lakini AU hawaonekani hivi hiki chombo ni chanini?

Mimi nikiwa mshabiki mkubwa wa panafricanism najiuliza, naomba mnisaidie, what should be done to rejuvenite the AU?I am sick and tired!!!!

 

[NICK2275]

Mwanajamii Consultant alisema kwenye ile thread ya Ivory coast.

Hivi wajibu wa AU (African Union) ni upi hasa kwenye issue kama hii ya Ivory Coast?

Ni upuuzi wa hali ya juu kuwa na ''union'' iliyo butu na isiyo na uwezo kwa kutuunganisha kama waafrica

Shame on AU
-----------

Kuna vita Ivory coast, wakimbizi Libya wanasaidiwa na EU, red cross, lakini AU hawaonekani hivi hiki chombo ni chanini?

Mimi nikiwa mshabiki mkubwa wa panafricanism najiuliza, naomba mnisaidie, what should be done to rejuvenite the AU?I am sick and tired!!!!

mimi binafsi sijaona umuhimu wa Africa union mpaka sasa-migogoro ni mingi lakini hii AU inashindwa kuonyesha mchango wake

 

[nyamagaro]

Ni kwamba AU ni ya waafrica weusi ambao nchi zao hazina mali sasa zinazosaidia EU USA etc

Umeona wa ulaya wakiingilia IvoryC kama Libya hakuna cha kuwafaidisha likewise Zimbabwe etc

Nchi za Tunisia Egypt etc zipo Africa ila wao wanaziita arab world, arab countries etc kama ni tofauti na black african.

Mie hadi leo sijasikia hata wa ulaya wakiomba AU iingilie wao wakae waangalie, hawawezi sababu wanapata mengi kama Libya, Egypt pia inasaidia re Israeli etc.

Na sasa petroli zimepanda bei na kuzidi sababu ya Libya hivyo AU badala ya kulinda mali ya Africa waoga

Kesho ikianza Nigeria pia wa ulaya wataingilia sababu ya petroli ikiwa Tanzania wataomba AU iingilie

Na hii ndio itaendelea kama kawa

Au is a toothless gambling club of dogs whose members are African dictators said to have taken power through uchakachuaji. Imagine JK anawakilisha nchi kwenye situations kama hizo what will happen.....This means un-seriousness, Uvivu, jokes, dozing in the meeting etc...
Imagine it is Libya (gadafi to be specific) that contributes >20% of the AU running cost. Do you think one can dare point a hand on him,.....my friend where does he get the guts,the same applied to other african-arab countries.

 

[Drifter]

Ukweli unabakia kuwa viongozi ni zao la jamii. Huwezi kuwa na nchi zinazoongozwa na mifumo ya kidikteta ukategemea kuwa na umoja (AU) wenye kusimamia utawala bora na maadili kikamilifu. Chombo cha juu kabisa cha maamuzi katika AU kama ilivyo kwa UN na vinginevyo ni mkutano wa marais. Sasa kama sisi tunakubali kuwa na mifumo isiyozingatia demokrasia katika nchi zetu kiasi kwamba tunakuwa na viongozi madikteta tunatarajia nini kwa chombo kama AU? Wala tusiende kwenye kingo za akina Mugabe, gadaffi, n.k. Enzi za Mkapa alishawahi kutoa kauli katika mkutano mmoja wa SADC kwamba hana imani na wapinzani wanaokwenda kulialia katika nchi za wafadhili baada ya kushindwa nyumbani. Hata sasa, unadhani uongozi tulio nao nchini hisia zao ziko pamoja na waandamanaji katika mapinduzi yanayoendelea huko kaskazini?

Kutokana na kukosekana kwa demokrasia ndio maana wananchi wa Kaskazini (waarabu) wameamua kutumia njia iliyobaki kuwang'oa madikteta. Ni mpaka hapo nchi zote Afrika zitakapojiwekea na kuimarisha utawala bora wenye uwazi ndipo tutaweza kupima taasisi yoyote itakayotokana na ushirikiano wa nchi hizo.

Aidha sidhani kama tunahitaji kuwa na taifa moja lenye nguvu ili kudhibiti mambo huko AU. Mataifa yote hata yawe na demokrasia ya ndani kiasi gani, yanaangalia maslahi yao tu. Huko UN kwenyewe tumeona kuwa hakuna mwenye ubavu wa kuwadhibiti Marekani na wakuu wengine wakiamua kufanya fujo (rej. Vietnam, Congo, Irak, n.k.). Hata tawala zetu wanazoziunga mkono ni zile zinazosimamia maslahi yao tu (Mobutu, Ben Ali, Mubarak, n.k.). Hata Gadaffi alianza kuwa poa. Bila shaka hata Tanzania ilivyo hivi sasa kwao ni poa tu - kasoro mafuta bado hayajapatikana ndio maana kuna kibano cha kimyakimya kuhusu utawala bora.

 

[Masanja]

Naamini Waafrika tunahitaji kuwa realistic na kile tunachoweza kukifanikisha kama sisi na kwa manufaa yetu. Akwaba ameeleza vema hapo juu. Lakini ukweli unabaki pale pale. AU ndicho chombo chetu sisi Waafrika. Tunawajibu wa kuhangaika nacho tuweze kukibadilisha...Jamani hata ukiangalia leo..AU imetoka mbali. Ukiangalia UN/EU ni institutions ambazo zipo kulinda maslahi ya wakubwa. Unadhani kama hakuna interests ya mkubwa UN ataingilia kati? To me, AU it is a great institution which needs fundamental changes. But the question is how do we get there? TUANZE NA DEMOCRATIZATION OF DECISION MAKING. How do we get members of parliament at the AU level? Ukweli ni kwamba bila waafrika kuamka, tutaendelea kuumia. Na sidhani ni vyema kulaumu tuu hili shirika.Yes kuna viongozi wasiopenda demokrasia. Lakini, si ndo hao hao tulio nao? we have to deal with them. Mi nashauri tuanze na mawazo constructive tuache kulaumu tuu. AU haiwezi kuwa EU overnight. Even EU shows that such a Union can only succeed within a framework of democracies. It is a long shot. But I still have faith in AU as an African Institution to provide leadership in this turbulent world we live in.

 

[Negrodemus]

rais wa libya c alikua mwenyekiti wa hiyo AU baada ya sharobaro mkwere!!!!!!!!!!!!! kama baba anaweza kujiadhibu ndan ya nyumba yake basiiiiiiiiiiii atakua mzalendooo

 

[sawabho]

African Union is composed of African Countries' Presidents. So they tend to protect one another. Watawezajie kusalitiana?

 

[Mzee2000]

Bado na mimi nina imani na Au na kweli kabisa hiki chombo kimeanzia mbali na kuna tumaini la kukirekebisha. Hatua ya kwanza kama ilivyosemwa hapo juu ni democratisation kama unavyoona MP wa EU wanavyochaguliwa kidemokrasia.Halafu kuondoa mawazo tegemezi ya viongozzi wetu, ambao kila wanapoona tatizo basi wanawaomba wstern countries!

 

[mageuzi1992]

Before asking yourself so many questions like that just ask your self was the Tanzanian election free and fair? Was there true electroral commision? Was the results released realistic? After asking your self those questions you may now start asking of Ivory coast and Libya Issue. To My side, I think the fundamental problem with the African Union is it is a weak Union of weak states or we can say is the union with no roots!. The union is characterised of states having weak democracies and dictatorships forms of governments. This is the major reason for failure to act accordingly!

 

[Mzee2000]

True democracy first

 

[Shiefl]

Hivi jamani nisaidieni. Kuna haja ya kuwa na AU inayokaa kimya wakati huu wananchi wasiona na hatia wanauawa na wengine wakidandia midege za nchi za watu. Juzi tumeona wanyirwanda wakidandia ndege ya Uturuki mpaka Tanzania, watanzania wakipanda ndege ya Kenya. Umoja huu unaonekana kutofanya juhudi zozote za kuhimiza nchi hizi kuheshimu haki za binadamu na kuchukua hatua stahiki kama zitaendelea kuchezea haki hizi.

Kwani AU isiwe mstari wa mbele kulaani haya na kuchukua hatua hata kama ni kwa wapinzani kama kweli hawako sahihi au Gaddafi kama anafanya vibaya?

Kwanini nchi kama Tanzania isilaani haya yanayoendelea. Sasa pia naomba viongozi wa Upinzani waanzishe mtaandao wao wa Africa na uwe unatoa matamko ya kulaani mambo kama haya na kuungana na watetezi wa haki za binadamu.

Wenzetu wa Ulaya wanaendelea kutushangaa kuwa Africa ni nchi ambazo hata kama watu wanauawa sisi tunakaa kama vile wanaouwa ni nyani.

Kuna haja gani ya kusubiri watu wa Ulaya na Marekani wawe mstari wa mbele kuwatetea watu wa Libya kwa mfano?

Na kwanini Tanzania inaweza kumsafirisha rais na maafisa wake kupeta majuu kwenye mikutano wakati kuna watz hawalali kule Tripoli na hamna anayewarusha nyumbani mpaka wadandie midege ya watu? Nadhani sasa tutambue kuwa Mtanzania anayekaa nchi ameenda kule kwa Passport inayoonesha kabisa rais na anamlinda.

Huu uzembe wa taasisi kama hizi lini utaisha?

 

[Saint Ivuga]

wamelala !! kila mtu anaogopa si ni wote wana tabia moja. na si unamuona jk anaenda sijui kusuluhisa nini huko wakati watu washaanza kuuana

 

[dudus]

Mkutano Mkuu wa kwanza wa iliyokuwa OAU ulifanyika Cairo tarehe 17-21 Julai 1964 chini ya uenyekiti wa Rais Gamal Abd-El Nasser na makao makuu ya, bila kumung'unya maneno yakateuliwa mara moja kuwa Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia na nchi waanzilishi zilikuwa 32.

Sasa hebu angalia "first eleven" ya waanzilishi wa OAU ikihusisha akina:

Emperor Haile Selasie I (Ethiopia), Gamal Abd-El Nasser (Misri), Dr. Julius K. Nyerere (Tanzania), Dr. Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Ahmed Ben Bella, Ahamadou Ahidjo (Cameroon), Houphouet Boigny (Ivory Coast), His Majesty King ldris I of the United Kingdom of Libya, King Hassan II (Morocco), Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe/Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Nigeria), Leopold Sedar Senghor (Senegal), Marshal Farik lbrahim Abboud (Sudan), Habib Bourguiba (Tunisia), Dr. Keneth Kaunda (Zambia).

Na baadaye baadhi yao wakarithiwa na majemadari kama akina: Anwar Saddat (Misri), n.k. Pia wakaingia mashujaa wapya akina Samora Machel (Msumbiji), Dr. Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe - japo mambo yake si mazuri sana siku hizi), Dr. Nelson Mandela (Afrika Kusini), n.k.

Hiyo ndiyo ilikuwa "List of Heroes" ya OAU ya enzi hizo bila kuwasahaub watendaji wakuu (Makatibu wakuu) mahiri kama kina Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim; mwanafunzi bora kabisa wa Mwl. Nyerere.

Sasa hebu linganisha hiyo list na list ya viongozi wa leo wa AU kama akina Muamar El-Qadaffi (Libya) ambaye pia ana ajenda zake nyingi ndani ya AU; Yoweri Museveni (kiongozi mtata na asiyeeleweka), Mwai Kibaki (huyu kila mtu anamjua, Dr. Jakaya M. Kikwete (naye mambo yake hayajatulia sana), Gen. Omar Al-Bashir - Sudan (anatafutwa na ICC), Hosni Mobarak - Misri (kafukuzwa na watu wake), Zine ben-Ali - Tunisia (pia kafukuzwa na watu wake), Laurent Gbagbo - Ivory Coast (mchakachuaji mkuu wa kura hadi dunia nzima imeshtuka), n.k.

Nadhani kwa mifano hiyo michache, inaeleweka ni kwa nini AU imekuwa mufilisi, isyokuwa na dira, visheni, wala malengo yanayoeleweka tafauti na ilivyokuwa OAU.

Majemadari wa Afrika hawa hapa: The Biographies of the Founding Fathers

 

[Shiefl]

Shukrani sana Hon Dudus,

Ndio maana hawa jamaa wako tayari kufunga safari ka JK na kurudi Tz hata hazungumzi na waandishi nini kinachoendelea huko majuu wanakoenda hata kama ni Ivory Cost. Unashulihisha mtu kaiba kura?