[Ugnet] Obasanjo Meets Military Chiefs On AU Force

Holds talks with Bush today

The issue of conflict resolution in Africa came to the front burner yesterday as President Olusegun Obasanjo met with the chairman of the African Union (AU) Commission, Alpha Konare, the Union's Force Commander, Nigeria's Brigadier-General Festus Okonkwo and the country's Chiefs of Defence and Army Staff, Generals Alexander Ogomudia and Luther Agwai respectively.

The meeting which took a greater part of the President's day focused on modalities for the operations of an African force towards ensuring peace in conflict areas.

Obasanjo departed Abuja early this morning to Washington on a working visit where he is expected to hold bilateral talks with President George W. Bush on the AU Force.

A statement from the White House in Washington disclosed that the two leaders would discuss the situations in Darfur, Sudan and Cote d'Ivoire. They are also expected to review US-Nigerian bilateral relations, including economic cooperation, expanded trade and investment opportunities, as well as the role of the African Union in regional defense and security issues.

While in Washington, he is also billed to discuss other world issues and Nigeria's debt burden, just as he would be honoured by the Leon Sullivan Foundation and meet with investors who are interested in Nigeria.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media Matters, Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, who gave details of the President's itinerary, at a press briefing yesterday, said "the President (Obasanjo) also briefed Konare on the situation in Darfur."

"But I believe that the President is very, very optimistic that next week, when the (Sudan) talks finally resume in Abuja, it will finally get to the end of the protocols that need to be found. But I feel that he is sufficiently satisfied with progress in the Darfur crisis.

"The whole essence of this (President's meeting with Konare and service chiefs) is to ensure that whatever is being put in place has a proper structure and definition of the role which would be performed by different actors," Oyo said.

She added that during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday, "there was a briefing from the Foreign Affairs Minister on the flash points in Africa which the President has zeroed his mind. From the issue of Cote d'Ivoire, to the issue of the crisis in Darfur, there is also the problem in the Great Lake Region. When the President was in Burkina Faso, he met separately and together with the Presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. And the President is continuing with the effort at peace-making in that direction."

The Presidential spokesperson also noted that today (Thursday) Obasanjo will be meeting Bush. It is expected that the two heads of state will review the bilateral relations which are good between the two countries, world issues at different parts of the world, the fight against terrorism and HIV/AIDS.

"It is also expected that the President would reiterate his belief that the debt burden must be removed because sustainable development is tied to the release of money. The President would be honoured by the Leon Sullivan Foundation and an award will be given to the President for his initiative on the establishment of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)."

She added that "thereafter, the President is expected to meet with investors who have signified their intention to meet with him and discuss how they can come to Nigeria."

Oyo however stated that "what is criticial is that President Bush has just been re-elected and would be fashioning out new programmes for his government. I believe it is important that all those that are in love with their country, as our President is, will ensure that they get their act quickly. Also important is the fact that the President speaks for Africa."

The Leon H. Sullivan Foundation would host Obasanjo to an evening celebration in honour of the leadership of the NEPAD. Former President Bill Clinton and Obasanjo will be the keynote speakers for the evening.

Other prominent African leaders expected at the dinner include President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, President Abdelaziz Boutelifka of Algeria, President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.

In a report by AllAfrica news media, Sullivan Foundation Chairman, Ambassador Andrew Young described the event as "significant" because "it will be among the first premier events to be held on behalf of Africa following the November 2, 2004 elections.

Obasanjo, along with his counterparts in South Africa, Algeria and Senegal are lauded for initiating and promoting the concept of a NEPAD programme through which the African Union would address the most serious problems facing Africans in an atmosphere of parternship and mutual responsibilities with developed nations.

[Ugnet] Obasanjo Meets Military Chiefs On AU Force

Reply via email to