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Abuja, January 31, 2005

President Mwai Kibaki and other Heads of State and Government applaud during the closing session of the fourth ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union at International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.

AU leaders resolve to seek faster economic growth

The fourth ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union ended today in Abuja Nigeria with leaders of member state resolving to put in place mechanisms that will enhance faster economic growth in the continent.

In a five-hour closed session attended by President Mwai Kibaki alongside other 40 Heads of State and Government, the assembly endorsed the accreditation of the East Africa Community as one of the regional economic blocks for the African Union. In endorsing the accreditation of the East African community, the leaders noted that no economic growth will be realized in a hostile environment.

In a communiqué issued after the session, the member states also condemned the continuing violations of ceasefire in Darfur by all parties. The leaders condemned the continuing aerial bombardments and attack on civilian populations in Darfur and called for immediate cessation of the violence.

In this connection the African Union pledged to take appropriate measurers against those responsible for obstructing peace efforts in Darfur.

The leaders stressed on the need to resume, with immediate effect inter-Sudanese peace talks on Darfur. In this regard they decided to establish a standing committee comprising of Chad, Egypt, Gabon, Libya and Nigeria to assist the current AU Chairman in his efforts to facilitate a speedy solution to the conflict in Darfur.

The African Union leaders also expressed satisfaction with the achievements made in Somalia peace reconciliation process under the auspices of IGAD and congratulated the people of Somalia for the success so far achieved.

The assembly also adopted the resolution to deploy an African Union peace mission in Somalia based on its previous decisions and recommendations made in Nairobi during the experts meeting held in December 2004.

They stressed the need for the African Union and international community to provide speedy and sustained support to the transitional federal institutions of the new Somalia government so as to prevent the loss of the tremendous achievements made in the reconciliation process in Somalia.

The African Union leaders also called for speedy convening of an international conference for the posy conflict reconstruction of Somalia within the context of the already established mechanism. They urged IGAD member states to continue with their effort towards consolidating the process of normalization and stabilization in Somalia.

Commending the United Nations Secretary General Koffi Annan for his efforts and successes in making the world a better place to live, the African leaders said they supported him for the reforms he has undertaken in the United Nations system. They agreed to adopt a common position on the issue of African countries taking permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.