Gambia’s President Adama Barrow on Monday delivered a powerful message during his intervention on the African Union reform process meeting at the ongoing 29th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the African Union iin Addis Ababa.
The AU Reform process is compelled by the need to change the norm in which the continental organization is being governed.
President Barrow reminded leaders that the current challenges faced by the continental organization require realistic and inclusive political leadership. He called for the need to address the factors preventing the continent to effectively operate as a Union through the reform processes.
Below is the full text of President Barrow’s intervention:
Mr. Chairperson,
All Protocols duly observed.
I take this opportunity to thank His Excellency President Paul Kagame for his inspiring leadership and I congratulate him and the members of his Pan-African Advisory Team for the quality and excellent work they are performing in our Reform Process. I also thank the Presidents of Guinea and Chad and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for their support of the reform process.
Mr. Chairperson,
The AU Reform process is compelled by the need to change the norm in which our Continental organization is being governed. Through our Agenda 2063, we have summed up a vision for our Continent, a vision that is based on a peaceful, unified and prosperous Africa. As a consequence, we should work together to achieve our noble goals for ourselves, and generations to come.
The current challenges faced by our Continental organization require realistic and inclusive political leadership. We need to address the factors preventing us to effectively operate as a Union through the reform processes.
Mr. Chairperson,
The Consultative Meetings that were held in Kigali and Addis Ababa strengthened our confidence in the reform process. We are hopeful that the consultations between the Members of the Pan-African Advisory Team, Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), African Union Commission (AUC) and our Ministers will continue to address the technical, legal and financial imperatives of the reform process.
Mr. Chairperson,
The importance of our agreed financing mechanism could not be over-emphasized. It is only prudent that while we work on our existing financial sources that we also embrace new financing mechanism.
The agreed 0.2% levy on eligible imports is a proposition for an independent and self-reliant Africa and we need to make it a reality.
We commend the great work being done by the Group of Ten Finance Ministers and they are urged to expedite the process of developing the governance structures for the funds to be generated. Our commitment towards the financing mechanism will be further enhanced if we are given clear assurances that the funds to be generated will be properly managed and utilized.
In the same vein, we commend Dr. Donald Kaberuka, AU High Representative for Peace Fund for all the governance mechanisms that have been developed for the Fund. It is vital that the implementation of the governance mechanisms is inclusive.
Mr. Chairperson,
In view of our decision on the format of our June/July Summits and the collaboration between our Union and the Regional Economic Communities, it is necessary that the latter are brought in the reform process. The proposed Consultative Forum that has been proposed needs to be convened as soon as possible.
We recognize the link between the levels of political participation and the successful implementation of the decisions we take. The decision for Member States to be represented at levels, not below the ranks of a Prime Minister or Vice President in our High-Level Meetings is acknowledged. However, it should be appreciated that our Foreign Ministers or Senior Members of our governments have the authority to fully represent us when designated to do so. As such, we urge the Reform Team to be aware of this fact.
Mr. Chairperson,
It is crucial that the administrative and governance structures of our continental organization are reviewed. We thank the AU Commission for its planned institutional audit exercise. Ultimately, it will reduce the administrative challenges of our organization. We must have the ability to bring our vision to reality. However, for this to be ultimately realized, the AU Commission Institutional Audit Team and the AU Reform Team should work together.
Also, we support the need to improve the perception towards our meetings. They need to be seen as platforms where issues that have impacts on the lives of our citizens are discussed and decisions with far-reaching implications are made.
Our citizens, especially our youths are important facilitators to this change. Their thinking could yield enriching ideas for the reform process. The discourse being undertaken on the reform process should not be confined solely to the AU. There needs to be a proactive engagement with our youths to seek their input.
On that note, I would like to thank you all.
Gambia: Anger and Concern greet Visa Refusals as the United States & Europe Profit at the Expense of Poor Applicants
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Marina Parade
Banjul.
Dearest:
For the attention of the Honourable Minister, Ousainou Darboe
I was left distressed and flabbergasted as to reasons why the United States Embassy in Banjul chose to refuse bright school-going Gambian kids mere visas to partake in a global competition of a robotics nature. The cruel actions taken by Embassy officials denying those kids of barely teenage ages the chance to attend a gathering of such magnitude has come to define the whole visa process Western diplomats assigned to the country have used for years in sending signals to shore up power. I do not care for the explanation of the American counsellor, nor will I fall for baseless reasoning on this and every other case found to be detestable, thus indefensible.
From an expertise analytical viewpoint – The issue here and all such recent offerings has come to signify US bargaining chip in furtherance of its foreign policy objectives. In simple terms, America is after something from the Gambia government, but clearly negotiations aren’t met as they’d wanted. I recognise cruel intentions on the part of the State Department as to rationale behind such a move. Fellow Gambians – Foresight has allowed me to analyse and conclude that the United States government through its embassy in Banjul is conniving to send diplomatic signals, the intimidating kind, to the ‘Barrow’ government playing up strength in bargain positioning. Folks, America is forcing the hand of the Gambia government to accept a costly demand which can only be described as unacceptable. And that demand largely hinges on deportation orders ascribed on all persons of Gambian origin being held by US immigration department and in prisons. As captured by local press, the embassy came out throwing ‘carrots’ for Gambia to accept deportees from US in exchange for warmer ties and financial benefit. How unethical, and pathetic too.
Let me make it abundantly clear that the diaspora is watching this space with great concern. And I will not hesitate to thank the Foreign Ministry in standing firm protecting its constituency abroad. A vital national interest is determinant on this and all such demands from Western governments in motion. The pattern is uncanny on coercive diplomatic moves the United States has gotten away with, for decades, bullying lesser enhanced states in furtherance of its national interest. If ever in doubt just look at the delaying tactics Gambia government officials are met with in securing visas on foreign travels. Make no mistake the deportation orders are illegal under international law. Let Foreign Minister Darboe be assured of diaspora support & fraternity at all times, encouraging push-back against bullying tactics. Similarly, the President and his government deserve noteworthy praise for recent successes across the spectrum, and for diplomatic manoeuvres and contributions to African progress through multilateral means at ECOWAS, the African Union, and through United Nations systems respectively.
As for ambassador Patricia Allsop, she should be declared persona non-grata – pack your bags and get the hell out. The American government need to recognise trends, changes in polarity, emerging international order, in that the world has moved on from the old norms. And that exorbitant visa fees thrown on applicants’ way wills never be understood. The ‘West’ continues to milk millions out of ordinary applicants through visa fees, otherwise unrefunded. Britain is charging close to D100,000 all those seeking to reunite with other-halves; a similar cost is attached by other embassies. This is unacceptable given jurisdiction or otherwise: It is along those lines that I wish to commend & send profound gratitude and appreciations to the Peoples’ Republic of China through ambassador Jiming. I call on government to prioritise Banjul-Beijing ties thereby by deepening economic cooperation & linkages in a broad range of areas for mutual interest. The same policy should apply to Banjul-Moscow ties and to our friends in the Arab world.
The writer encourages his countryfolks to exercise patience, and to cooperate with one another for the interest of the nation. The Gambian people need to recognise a new century of African renaissance and wise up to it, of an emergent educated elite who second-guess and pre-empt foreign intentions. A confident people in decision-making skills, to excel in negotiations and contract makings. America and Europe must open eyes to the realities of a new-world in which the old ways of bullying-tactics won’t stand, thus obsolete. It is along such thinking that Tanzania‘s President John Magufuli ordered the suspension of new mining licenses to foreign firms, stating that expired licenses will not be renewed; accuses foreign companies of tax evasion.
Gibril Saine, LONDON