Egypt President Takes Over As New Head Of African Union

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi took over as chair of the
African Union (AU) following a meeting by heads of state from the
continent in Ethiopia’s capital on Sunday.

The post rotates annually between the five regions of the
continent. The Egyptian leader is expected to focus on the fight
against armed groups on the continent and rebuilding efforts of
countries recovering from conflict Aljazeera reported.

“Terrorism remains cancer that affects African nations and
steals the dreams of our people and we must identify and combat
those who fund terrorism activities on the continent,” Sisi said in
a speech to the AU assembly shortly after his appointment.

Under Egypt‘s leadership the bloc will prioritise mediation and
“preventive diplomacy” as one of the key mechanisms for promoting
peace and security on the continent, he added.

Sisi takes the helm from Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who
focused on creating an Africa wide free-trade zone during his
tenure.

“There is no doubt that you (Sisi) will take our union forward
decisively to new and greater heights,” the Rwandan leader said as
he handed over to Egypt’s president.

In recent years, Cairo has had a frosty relationship with the
African Union.

Egypt was kicked out of the 55-member state pan-African body in
2013 following a Sisi-led military coup.

The coup resulted in the overthrew of the country’s
democratically elected leader, Mohamed Morsi, and brought Sisi to
power. The bloc later lifted Egypt’s suspension.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International expressed concern that Sisi’s
leadership of the bloc could harm the continent’s human rights
record.

“During his time in power, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has
demonstrated a shocking contempt for human rights. Under his
leadership the country has undergone a catastrophic decline in
rights and freedoms,” said Najia Bounaim, Amnesty’s North Africa
campaign director.

“There are real fears about the potential impact his
chairmanship could have on the independence of regional human
rights mechanisms and their future engagement with civil society,”
Bounaim added.

It is the first time since the AU was founded in 2002 that Egypt
assumes the top seat of the body.

NAF in Show of Force on Kaduna-Abuja
Expressway
In an effort to support more effective security measures along the
Kaduna-Abuja Highway, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has conducted a
“Show of Force” Exercise in Katari village, one of the identified
criminal hotspots along the Route.

The exercise, which combined aerial and ground operations by NAF
Special Forces (SF) and Regiment personnel, is intended to send a
stern warning signal to criminal elements, that the NAF and other
security agencies are ready to engage them both from the air and on
ground to frustrate their nefarious activities.

Two armed helicopters, along with 50 fully armed personnel, were
deployed for the exercise, which simulated a rummage where the SF
stormed a criminal hideout and arrested some suspects who were
flown away for further interrogation.

The Team Leader and Commanding Officer of the Regiment Wing, 453
Base Services Group NAF Kaduna, Wing Commander Leonard Onugha,
while addressing the men after the exercise, said the NAF, in
collaboration with other security agencies, is doing all it can to
ensure a safe corridor for commuters who ply the Kaduna-Abuja
Highway.

He therefore urged all well meaning Nigerians to go about their
legitimate businesses and report any suspicious activities or
persons to the security agencies.

Certain portions of Kaduna-Abuja Highway have been susceptible
to the activities of armed robbers and kidnappers, who randomly
attack and kidnap commuters for ransom and rituals.

In compliance with the directives of the Chief of the Air Staff,
Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, the NAF, as part of its
constitutional role of providing aid to Civil Authority, will
sustain aerial surveillance and armed vehicular patrols along the
Highway and Rail line to consolidate ongoing efforts to ensure safe
travels for law-abiding citizens.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force