Dlamini-Zuma: US travel ban heralds turbulent times for Africa

This diplomacy should continue if Morocco wants to win hearts and minds of African leaders to support its return to the African Union, which requires the support of at least 36 of the bloc’s members.

Further, President Khama has not done much to sell the candidate, while candidates from other countries have seen their leaders going all out before and during this Summit to sell them as they best replacements for Dr Dlamini-Zuma.

The 54-member union, established in 2001 and comprised of nation states spanning the African continent, met for its 28th gathering in part to choose Dlamini-Zuma’s successor. She expressed the hope that all of Africa and the rest of the world can follow the wonderful and professional example of ECOWAS in conflict prevention and resolution.

But now comes what may be Ms Dlamini-Zuma’s defining challenge. Zimbabwe’s Head of State and Government is heading a delegation of senior State officials for the 30-31 January Summit themed “Harnessing the demographic dividend through investment in the youth”.

UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, applauded African nations for their inclusive practices.

Some draw parallels with Bill and Hilary Clinton in the United States, and the sense that South African voters may simply have grown exhausted of the Zuma name and any hint of a political dynasty. “Our greatest tribute to him will be to continue the friendship and solidarity with Cuba and its people”, Dr. Zuma indicated. Tambo was born in 1917.

“If you look at the world, if you look today at the United States and its policies, people are talking more about nationalism and bring back jobs to America”, said Fatima Haram Acyle, the commissioner for the trade and industry.

For millions of Africans, the AU is a distant organisation that holds meetings and drafts documents in Addis Ababa, but with little or no effect on the ground.

The world is in the second year of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals and Africa has adopted a plan that is even more far-reaching and ambitious: Agenda 2063, he said.

Aside the election of a new AUC chairperson, Chadian president Idris Deby Itno also handed over to Guinea’s Alpha Conde as Chairman of the African Union.

“The APRM must promote greater intra-African trade that is freer and fairer”, said the President.

Both meetings were aimed at strategising for how to ensure that CS Amina clinches as many votes as possible during the voting for the AU leadership on Monday.