JOHANNESBURG – The African Union (AU) has set up an early warning system to help tackle conflicts before they degenerate into emergencies, H. E. Dr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), has disclosed.
"The increase in crises, conflicts is a phenomenon which has been noted; especially after the Kenya conflict. We realised that disputes can also erupt following elections which have not been well-prepared," Dr. Ping told journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing First Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), in Johannesburg, South Africa.
"So, to (help) prevent conflicts, we have set up an early warning system because of the increase in conflicts … we have faced the Zimbabwe crisis, Sudan, the Mauritania; but prevention will allow us to prevent than to cure."
During the Plenary Session, Dr. Ping stressed the importance of all African countries ratifying the AU Protocol establishing the PAP, saying it would facilitate the promotion of good governance on the continent that is renowned for armed conflicts.
"The need for ratification of the Protocol cannot be over-emphasised. Nothing can come into place without ratification. The creation of one single African government, the move towards a united Africa … the states are divided as a result of many conflicts".
"We speak about good governance but it's the bad governance of the West that has failed in Africa. Zambia Airways flew everywhere; but it's no more. All the companies have been dismantled by privatisation (a Western concept)," Dr Ping said.
On his part, Hon. Dr. Moussa Idriss Ndele, MP, President of the PAP, commented: "We have struggled since May 2009 to move this (the PAP) from a consultative to a legislative body, but we are confident that we are making progress."
Speaking about the situation in Sudan, Dr. Ping stated that the decision to position the huge number of troops to Darfur, Sudan, was informed by the desire to prevent the killings, stop the killings and keep the peace; objectives which he said have almost been achieved.
He also urged the warring parties to engage themselves in dialogue. "The problem of Sudan cannot be solved militarily but politically because the rebels and the government must dialogue to come to a compromise", He said. "We (African Union) must restore peace and trust in that country. Although there are other problems of accusations of injustice, justice must be rendered. The United Nations Security Council and the African Union must work hand in hand to restore order to Sudan."
On the Somalia unrest, the Chairperson said: "We want to sort out the crisis in Somalia. We are going to ask the African Union for help and when we do that, it shows that we are weak. Although we regret that, it is normal. Even the UN does that. When they lack troops, they call on member-states to help and it is done."
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