LIBYAN leader Muammar al Qathafi has vowed to pursue his vision of a United States of Africa (USA), in his inaugural address as the new chairman of the African Union (AU).

Col. Al Qathafi was elected by the heads of state of the 53-member union behine closed doors at a summit in Ethiopia. A BBC correspondent at the summit said Col. Qathafi was seen to be the obvious choice, but some delegates were uneasy about his nomination. Col. Qathafi replaced the Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete.

Wearing a golden brocade robe and cap, Col. Al Qathafi sat with the traditional African leaders who accompanied him at the front of the room, rather than in the seat for the Libyan delegate. Col al Qathafi attended the summit with an entrourage of seven local monarchs. “I shall continue to insist that our sovereign countries work to achieve the United States of Africa,” he said in his inaugural speech.

But he admitted that African leaders were “not near to a settlement” on the issue. He told fellow summit leaders that his unity project would be approved at the next meeting in July unless there was a majority against it. The AU normally relied on consensus, but Col. Qathafi introduced what he described as the islamic concept that “silence is approval,” Under this principle, at least two-thirds of AU leaders would have to actively oppose Col. Al Qathafi’s proposals, rather than simply ignoring his ideas, she added.

But an expert on the African Union called the vision of the United States of Africa a “Iudicrous fantasy on the part of (Col) Qathafi.” Kathryn Sturman at the South African Insttute of International Affairs said many African leaders would not be prepared to give up their natonal sovereignty to join the proposed single-state federation proposal by the Libyan leader.

Ms. Sturman said the chair of the group does not have any singular decision-making power, and could not push through any changes without leaders. During closed door talk last Sunday, Africa leaders again postponed Col. Al Qathafi’s dream of closer union. In a compromise, the summit agreed to transform the African Union Commission – which oversees the AU – into an AU authority with a broader mandate, outgoing chair Mr. Kikwete said.

“In principle, we said the ultimate is the United States of Africa. How we proceed to that ultimate – there are building blocks,” Mr. Kikwete said.

Source: BBC