African Union Replaces the Organization of African Unity-- And Five Other Updates

Humanitarian Times

Created in 1963 & headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Org of African Unity (OAU) promoted African culture, opposed Apartheid, conducted conflict warning, peace monitoring & refugee protection. While the OAU was felt by Africans to symbolize the past, the new African Union, with 53 countries (not Morocco) looks to the future & signals an era of better governance.  New with the AU is a 15-member "Peace & Security Council" modeled after the UN Sec. Council which can deploy military force.  While respecting the rights of borders & sovereign equality between states, the AU constitution adds:  "the right of the Union to intervene in a Member State pursuant to a decision of the Assembly in respect of grave circumstances, namely: war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity;" as well:  "respect for the sanctity of human life, condemnation and rejection of impunity and political assassination." Incorporating the existing OAU offices, & based again in Addis, the AU will also establish an elections-monitoring division promoting free & regular elections.  It also builds on a 1993 treaty in Abuja to create an all-African economic community.  Critics note that while Madagascar's new president is not admitted in the AU because of election flaws, Zimbabwe's Pres. Mugabe is permitted, suggesting to some that the AU recreates the club of old friends.  See: www.au2002.gov.za  

- ZIMBABWE COURT ACQUITS JOURNALIST ANDREW MELDRUM TODAY
for his Internet-web-based reporting (in the Guardian), in a case of dual importance: because it is the first to come under Zimbabwe's harsh anti-media laws, & because it tested local vs. int'l jurisdictions for internet-based publishing.  Meldrum's article had not been published in Zimbabwe, but was "available" via the UK-based Guardian site.  While nominally acquitted, Meldrum was ordered to leave Zimbabwe where he had been a permanent resident (living in Zimbabwe for 21 years).

In other press freedom news, the Burma military banned private internet links & US security officers last week detained foreign-affairs journalist Joel Mowbray in DC in an apparent attempt to coerce from him his sources related to his reporting on the State Dept.

- PRESIDENT C. PAYNE LUCAS RETIRES 32 YEARS AFTER FOUNDING AFRICARE
but in his farewell celebration last week promised to continue to work to reduce HIV deaths in Africa.  Julius Coles is the new Pres.

- 600,000 GIRLS RETURN TO SCHOOLS IN AFGHANISTAN, REPORTS UNICEF
last week from an ongoing survey of grade-school attendance.  The Afghanistan Support Group meeting in Geneva last week found a $777mn shortfall in humanitarian aid, while Afghan Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani re-stated gov't commitment to the rule of law.  UNHCR negotiated promises of safe refugee return from 3 northern warlords (Dostum, Ustad Atta Muhammed & Sardar Saudi).


- LEADERS OF 78 POORER NATIONS MEET THIS WEEK IN FIJI, JOINTLY PLANNING
to increase European aid under the ACP (African Caribbean Pacific)
agreements to former colonies (now promised at $13Bn over 5 years).

- HUMAN SECURITY EXPERT, ANDREW MACK, URGES GRASSROOTS CHANGE IN IRAQ
in his July 12 editorial in the Int'l Herald Tribune, noting US plans to invade Iraq & the expected loss of lives.  Mack writes "there is an alternative strategy...lifting the sanctions... Authoritarian regimes ultimately fail because, as societies become more developed, complex & inter-dependent, they also become increasingly difficult to govern by coercion."  Empowering Iraq's middle-class would undercut S. Hussein's support, predicts Mack.  This month the threat of attack against Iraq was declared immoral & illegal in a circular signed by Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Wales, with other leading clerics.

The Humanitarian Times (HT) was founded in 1998 and currently provides over 100,000 professionals, NGOs, relief agencies, academics & students with information about humanitarian emergencies, early warning of crises, relief strategies, health priorities, capacity-building, development, food aid, human rights & humanitarian journalism. It has an email edition.  To subscribe to this email edition,  email: HTimes@MSN.com 
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