United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Saturday called on African leaders to avoid “undemocratic constitutional changes with a view to clinging on to power.”
Speaking at the opening of the 26th Ordinary Session of the African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, he said using “legal loopholes” to cling on to power will inevitably lead to chaos.
“We have all seen the tragic consequences when they do,” he said, adding that leaders must protect their people, not themselves.
Considering the 17 African countries that will go to the polls in 2016, Mr. Ban urged for participative approach, as elections are another test of good governance.
As he announced his last visit as UN Secretary-General to the AU summit in Addis Ababa, Mr. Ban valued the Union’s greater involvement in mediation and conflict resolution.
However, he said to counter the new trend of violence and terrorism, the strong rights-based partnership between the United Nations and the African Union will be meaningful.
“Extremism flourishes when rights are violated, political space shrinks, and people are marginalized,” he warned.
The 26th AU summit is themed “2016, African Year of Human Rights with focus on the rights of women”.
Other crucial points on the Summit’s agenda include the crisis in Libya, Burundi, Somalia, South Sudan as well as the Chad Lake Basin.
Deliberations are expected to end on Sunday.
Deliberations are expected to end on Sunday.
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