Global Policy Forum

By Dagnachew Teklu

The African Union (AU) decided on Thursday to dispatch a high level delegation to Cote d'Ivoire to continue its effort in resolving the political conflict in that country. The decision was made following a high-level meeting the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the AU held here on its 40th meeting, Thursday, to discuss the political situation in Cote d'Ivoire. Current Chairman of the AU, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasango, South African President Thabo Mbeki, and Sudanese President Al- Beshir, as well as government ministers and representatives of International Organizations attended the meeting. The African Union (AU)

According to the Communiqué the Council issued at the end of the meeting, the AU delegation will be composed of President Obasango and President Mbeki, the AU Mediator, and will meet Ivorian President Gbagbo, including representatives of the Political parties with respect to the implementation of the summit.

The Council decided that President Gbagbo shall remain Head of State for the coming 12 months, and a new prime Minister be appointed: "During this period a new Prime Minister acceptable to all the Ivorian parties that are signatories to the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement shall be appointed. The Government, which he will lead, shall be composed of personalities proposed by the Ivorian parties- signatories to the Linas-Marcoussis Agreement," the AU said.

The Council also decided that in order to assist the Ivorian Government in implementing its program, consolidate, and strengthen the existing follow-up Mechanisms, an International Working Group (IWG), composed of high ranking officials of governments, the AU, the UN, and International Organizations shall be established at a ministerial level.

"The IWG shall be chaired by the Foreign Minister of Nigeria, in his capacity as the representative of the Chair of the AU. The office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, the Special Representative of the Executive Secretary of ECOWAS in Cí´te d'Ivoire and the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission in Cí´te d'Ivoire shall serve as secretariats of IWG," it was agreed.

The IWG will comprise, as its members, officials from Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, France, United Kingdom, USA, United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, European Union, the International Organization of the Francophone, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

The IWG will meet once a month in Cote d'Ivoire to evaluate, monitor and follow-up the over-all developments of the peace process. The summit called up on the Ivorian Government and all other parties to do to their utmost level to ensure that the lives and properties of the people, including those of individuals involved in the peace process are secured.

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