AU leaders, EU press for partnership in Vienna

AU leaders, EU press for partnership in Vienna

African Union leaders in Vienna to attend the High-Level Forum Africa-Europe on Tuesday urged their European counterparts to view African nations as equals as they move forward on technology, trade and other key issues. Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the AU Commission, delivered forceful remarks that highlighted the continent’s expectations…

AU calls for calm in Gabon over interim Bongo replacement

The head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said Saturday that he is deeply concerned about instability in the West African nation of Gabon as its leader remains hospitalized. Faki, alongside AU President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, wished President Ali Bongo a full recovery in an announcement made…

African Union approves $681.5 million 2019 budget

The African Union has approved a USD$681.5 million budget for 2019 during its extraordinary summit in Addis Ababa, which began Wednesday. The details include $273.3 million for financing the peacekeeping budget, with another $249.8 million to the AU program budget and $158.5 million for the operational budget. There are now…

SA diplomat in Western Sahara for talks on Sahrawi issue

South Africa’s deputy foreign minister met with the prime minister of Western Sahara on Sunday as part of a four-day visit to the long-disputed government seeking independence from Morocco. The visit by Llewellyn Landers aims to deepen diplomatic relations between South Africa and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), according to…

Turkey-Africa Economy and Business Forum set for Istanbul

Turkey is set to welcome ministers and business representatives from 49 African countries as the two-day Turkey-Africa Economy and Business Forum begins in Istanbul on Wednesday. This year’s forum is jointly organized by the African Union Commission, the Turkish Ministry of Commerce and Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK). Participants…

The Tillerson farewell: Does U.S. even care about Africa?

Former United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson left Nigeria and landed at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington D.C. shortly after 4 a.m. local time on Tuesday. He cut short a high-visibility trip to five African nations, meant to assure African partners that the U.S. is committed to their…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times

Lavrov: Russia supports AU call for UN Security Council reforms

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says his nation supports United Nations Security Council reforms that would expand representation of nations in the developing world, including Africans. His remarks came alongside Moussa Faki Mahamat, head of the African Union (AU) Commission, during a press conference following Lavrov’s visit to AU headquarters…

Somalia: Farmaajo, AMISOM nations want troop transition put on hold

Somalia’s President Mohamed Farmaajo and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said Saturday they want the United Nations Security Council to reconsider the African Union troop drawdown and transition to Somali security forces authorized under last year’s Resolution 2372. Their position was decided at a summit of the Troop…

Namibia’s Gawanas named UNSG Special Adviser on Africa

Bience Gawanas of Namibia has been named by United Nations Secretary General António Guterres as Special Adviser on Africa, a decision welcomed by the African Union (AU) on Tuesday. “Africa will be well served and we look forward to working with Ms Gawanas and the rest of the United Nations…

U.S. must step up and own appalling disregard for African partners

One can’t help but wonder what was going through the minds of Botswana’s Ministry of International Affairs staff this week, as they prepared the official response to United States President Donald Trump’s reported remarks about African nations. It’s hard to imagine, without wincing, any real-life scenario in which thoughtful diplomats…

Laureen Fagan

Laureen is the editor of Africa Times