News / Africa
Mugabe snubbed by African leaders
02 Apr 2014 at 06:19hrs | Views
THE African Union's unity came under the spotlight yesterday as it emerged 36 Heads of State and Government are attending the EU-Africa summit starting today in Brussels, Belgium, snubbing Mugabe's call not to attend the event if the EU insisted on cherry-picking participants.
Reports from Brussels indicated yesterday that out of 54 African countries, 48 had confirmed taking part at the 4th EU-Africa summit running between today and tomorrow and 36 of them were represented at head of state and/or government level.
The AU's Peace and Security Council representatives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last Tuesday had advised that the bloc would not attend the summit to protest how Europe was holding the continent in contempt by determining the eligibility of participants to the event.
President Mugabe, South African leader Jacob Zuma and Malawian president Joyce Banda have been confirmed as not attending the summit, the EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Aldo Dell al Ariccia said yesterday.
"So far things are moving smoothly and there is an inter-ministerial meeting going on right now (yesterday). As of today (yesterday), 48 African countries and 28 EU members had confirmed their participation. At least 36 African countries are represented at head of state and government level and others at ministerial level.
"On the EU side, 22 countries are represented at head of state and government level and others are represented by foreign ministers. There are 58 heads of state and government out of 80 countries represented," he said.
Other countries that did not attend the meeting either their leaders were not invited or dropped later are Gambia, Central African Republic, Guinea Bissau, Eritrea and Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic.
Egypt was invited even though it is suspended from the AU because of a military coup - tacitly backed by some EU members and the United States that removed legitimately elected president, Mohamed Morsi, in July last year.
Morocco, which is not an AU member and which colonised SADR and has close ties to the EU and US, is attending the meeting.
Reports from Brussels indicated yesterday that out of 54 African countries, 48 had confirmed taking part at the 4th EU-Africa summit running between today and tomorrow and 36 of them were represented at head of state and/or government level.
The AU's Peace and Security Council representatives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last Tuesday had advised that the bloc would not attend the summit to protest how Europe was holding the continent in contempt by determining the eligibility of participants to the event.
President Mugabe, South African leader Jacob Zuma and Malawian president Joyce Banda have been confirmed as not attending the summit, the EU ambassador to Zimbabwe Aldo Dell al Ariccia said yesterday.
"On the EU side, 22 countries are represented at head of state and government level and others are represented by foreign ministers. There are 58 heads of state and government out of 80 countries represented," he said.
Other countries that did not attend the meeting either their leaders were not invited or dropped later are Gambia, Central African Republic, Guinea Bissau, Eritrea and Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic.
Egypt was invited even though it is suspended from the AU because of a military coup - tacitly backed by some EU members and the United States that removed legitimately elected president, Mohamed Morsi, in July last year.
Morocco, which is not an AU member and which colonised SADR and has close ties to the EU and US, is attending the meeting.
Source - chronicle
