The African Union passport (see below) has at last been launched with Presidents Paul Kagame (Rwanda) and Idriss Deby (Chad) being the first recipients. The passports were unveiled at the week long African Union summit-the 27th one-held in Kigali, the Rwandan capital…from 10th-18th July 2016.

The first copies are diplomatic though and only accessible to African Heads of State, select government and AU officials. Full roll out to citizens is expected to be effected by the end of 2018.

It is expected that the AU passport will give citizens visa free access to all 54 countries of the continent. At the moment, only 13 countries of the 54 have visa free access to citizens.

PICTURES FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF RWANDA

African Union Passport. President Idriss Deby (Chad) displays a copy of his AU passport at the 27th AU Summit . Courtesy Photo.

President Idriss Deby (centre) with his African Union passport.

African Union Passports. Presidents Paul Kagame (left) and Idriss Deby (Chad) display their diplomatic AU passports at the 27th AU summit-Kigali

Specioza Kazibwe-Uganda’s former Vice President… fails in bid for Africa Union Commission Chair inspite $1m ‘gift’.  

This year’s African Union Summit also marked the election of a new Chair for the African Union Commission set to replace Dlamini Zuma (ex-wife to South Africa’s President-Jacob Zuma) who was elected in 2012.

Uganda’s former Vice President Dr. Specioza Kazibwe was one of the three candidates in the race that for this top technical position of the AU Commission.

The Ugandan Government forked out $1m to back Kazibwe’s (in picture below) bid for the position from which she was first to be eliminated. with the least votes (11). The two other candidates were/are Botswana’s Foreign Minister Dr. Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi (got 16 votes) and Agapito Mba Mokuy-Equatoria Guinea’s Foreign Minister (12).

PICTURE BY THE PRESIDENTIAL PRESS UNIT (PPU-Uganda).

The position is still vacant as none of the three candidates garnered the requisite 2/3’s majority, required to replace Zuma. It is not certain if voting will proceed to the next stage-between Dr.Pelonomi and Agapito-but Kazibwe has definitely been eliminated at the first stage.

Kazibwe’s candidature was greeted with some concerns as she was representing Uganda whose security/troops presence in East Africa and the Great Lakes region was of major concern to other member states. Her candidature was viewed as Uganda’s attempt to influence the powerful Peace and Security Council of the AU.

Several African Heads of State attended the summit whose theme was “The African Year of Human Rights’…with special focus on the Rights of Women.

PICTURES BY PRESIDENTIAL PRESS UNIT (PPU)-UGANDA

President Museveni (5th L) in a group photo with other African Presidents at the opening of the 27th AU Summit in Kigali Rwanda yesterday July 17 PPU Photo

African leaders attending the opening ceremony of the 27th AU Summit in Kigali Rwanda yesterday July 17 2016 PPU Photo