By ‘Majirata Latela
Lesotho has issued a statement to object to the “unilateral” decision by the African Union Commission to grant Israel an official observer status at the continental organisation meeting.
The AU handed Israel the observer status on Thursday last week.
In a letter to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Permanent Mission to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on the Bureau of Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Lesotho has objected to the suggestion, requesting that the matter be rescinded forthwith or placed on the agenda of the Executive Council in October 2021.
“The government of Lesotho rightfully expected that the Chairperson of the AU Commission would have informed the member states of the AU about the resubmission of the Israel request for accreditation,
“Notwithstanding the powers of the Chairperson of the African Commission that the arise from Part II of the criteria for granting observer status and for a system of accreditation within the AU, this issue is sensitive and consultation with member states should have been undertaken before a decision was made.
“The government of the Kingdom of Lesotho therefore requests the Chairperson to rescind this decision in line with the advice of the Legal Counsel in both 2013 and 2025/16 on the same issue. Lesotho further notes that there are no new facts now which make the decision earlier to the reviewed,” the letter reads.
Lesotho shows that in 2013 and 2015/16 the application was not approved saying the criteria for accreditation of Non- African Sates and Regional Integration and International Organisations is clear that the aims and purposes of Non- African States or Organisations wishing to be accredited to the AU “shall be in conformity with the spirit, objectives and principles of constitutive act of AU”.
Last week Wednesday South Africa vehemently objected to last week’s “unilateral” decision by the African Union Commission to grant Israel an official observer status at the continental organisation.
In a strongly worded statement, the continental powerhouse, which last year held the annually rotating AU presidency, said it “is appalled at the unjust and unwarranted decision of the AU Commission to grant Israel observer status in the African Union”.
Botswana has on the other hand, also categorically rejected the decision to grant observer status to Israel.
The government of Botswana said on Monday the unilateral decision by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to receive credentials from the Ambassador of Israel is “concerning.”
In a strongly worded statement, the continental powerhouse, which last year held the annually rotating AU presidency, said it “is appalled at the unjust and unwarranted decision of the AU Commission to grant Israel observer status in the African Union”.
