By Antynet Ford
Kenya Lawyer Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba famously known as P.L.O Lumumba has written to the 54 heads of state in Africa requesting the postponement of the African Union (AU) elections.
The lawyer has stated that in the wake of ongoing power struggles in Sudan, the Anglophone crisis in South Cameroon, the Kivu conflict in DRC, the Civil War in the Central African Republic, the ethnic and political tension in Ethiopia, Islamic Insurgency in Northern Mozambique, Civil war in Libya, Insurgencies and Jihadist in the Sahel region and the civil War in Somalia; it would be respectful to postpone the elections and the issues addressed first.
In his letter, Lumumba has urged the heads of state to form a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the AU Commission for at least six months as a task force of nine or any manageable number is formed to oversee the completion of the implementation of the President Kagame reforms.
The outspoken Lawyer who said his letter is out of love of the African continent has also called for a change of the election rules to allow all the eligible Africans in the continent and diaspora to vie and serve as commissioners and Chairs.
He said the AU should not be a retirement site for politicians in the continent.
“It is my respectful proposal and request that the African Union elections scheduled next month between the 12th and 16th be postponed and a caretaker committee be formed for atleast six months with a nine-member taskforce being formed also to implement the President Kagame reforms,” the letter by P.L.O stated in part.
Lumumba has cited aegis in the African Union with promises made but remain unimplemented with others being partially implemented.
He gave an example of the declaration of unconstitutional changes by governments that was made in July 2000 during the AU meeting in Togo condemning the unconstitutional changes of various governments being partially implemented as governments still make unconstitutional changes.
He also cited the Kampala declaration which in 2011 focused on eliminating gender-based violence, especially in conflict and post-conflict settings but its partially implemented as SGBV is still prevalent in many regions across Africa.
“My plea is that we must re-energize and re-boot Pan African Institutions most of which are funded by foreign countries and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and which discharge their mandates perfunctorily with officials spending most of their time attending meetings, workshops, and symposia of one kind or another while critical issues are left unattended,” Lumumba has pleaded with the heads of states.
According to Lumumba conflict mediation in the continent should be led by the African Union but it has since neglected its duty and left it to foreigners.
In the letter, he said it is absurd that conflict in the republic of Sudan is being mediated in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia while the diplomatic tiff between Ethiopia and Somalia is being in Istanbul, Turkey.
The city lawyer states that while the continent enters the critical phase of the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCTA) in the 2063 Agenda, it is absurd that some countries have been suspended from the Union without considering how their leaders got into power.
He cited that Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame only got to power because constitutional doors were closed and resorted to extraordinary means but they would have also been suspended.
“Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Sudan have been suspended from the AU without examining the reasons that necessitated and justified how the current transitional leaders seized power to the joy of the populace. Respected and serving African leaders, like President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda initially emerged through extraordinary means; because all constitutional doors were closed and they had to resort to extraordinary means to free their countries from the clutches of politicians who sought refuge in Constitutions to perpetuate themselves in Office to the detriment of their countries and their people,” Lumumba stated.
P.L.O has cited that the persistent instability threatens not only regional peace but the broader aspirations of Africa’s development under Agenda 2063 hence should be addressed first before getting leaders of AU.
“As we confront these challenges, let us reflect on the wisdom found across diverse spiritual traditions that emphasize the power of mercy, reconciliation, and communal responsibility in restoring harmony to the lost and afflicted,” P.L.O. has appealed to the heads of state.