Nigeria Rejects Split Of AU’s Political Affairs Department

…As Tinubu Backs Africa-Led Credit Rating Agency

The federal government has rejected the proposal to create a new department out of the existing African Union’s (AU) Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security.

President Bola Tinubu highlighted the country’s position in his statement presented by Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, during the consideration and deliberation on the AU reforms report in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday.

“We do not support the proposal to reconfigure the Department of Political Affairs Peace and Security (PAPS), as the reconfiguration of the PAPS Department in the way currently suggested will only lead us to incur more expenditure needlessly.

“We already have a Support Operations Directorate under the Directorate of PAPS. We cannot have a Peace Support Operations Directorate independent of the Directorate of Political Affairs, Peace and Security.

“We believe any attempt to create another department from the existing one will destabilise the AU political affairs and peace and security process.

“It is also important that issues that were never brought to the attention of member states are not part of the reform,” President Tinubu said.

Amb. Bankole Adeoye, a Nigerian diplomat who heads the department, was re-elected to another term at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government, which ended Sunday.

The Nigerian government also said it supported the move to reform the AU, making it more vibrant, viable, and relevant to the needs of member states in the face of rapidly changing global political and economic realities.

President Tinubu commended his Rwanda and Kenya counterparts, Paul Kagame and William Ruto, for the reform proposals.

Tinubu acknowledged the recommendations outlined in the draft decision on the AU reform.

He said the Nigerian government supported the proposal to establish a Heads of State and Government Oversight Committee for the AU Reforms under President Ruto’s leadership.

However, on the need for inclusiveness and transparency as an integral part of the reform of the AU system, Tinubu said the continental organisation should instead focus on implementing adopted policies and programmes.

“It is in this connection that Nigeria wishes to reiterate that instead of seeking to reach consensus on all fronts of our reform in one sweep, we should concentrate on areas where we have already reached consensus.

“There is no harm in carrying out reform in phases. It would be an error to continue seeking consultation on all fronts in perpetuity,” he said.

He said Nigeria would continue to support the reform process as long as it remained transparent and inclusive and did not needlessly destabilise the status quo.

Meanwhile, Tinubu at the AU meeting declared his support for an Africa-led credit rating agency (ACRA), saying it will provide fairer, more transparent credit assessments for African economies.

“An independent Africa-led rating agency will help provide fairer assessments of African economies and reduce the bias often observed in existing global rating agencies,” the president said in a statement by Mr Bayo Onanuga, his spokesman.

Tinubu commended the African Union (AU), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Finance for their visionary leadership in advancing an African framework for financing development among member states.

He affirmed that the Africa Financing Stability Mechanism (AFSM) is crucial as the continent continues to face significant challenges.

He identified the challenges as rising borrowing costs, debt overhang, low domestic resource mobilisation, and limited access to long-term affordable financing.

“The establishment of the AFSM underscores the collective commitment of member states to addressing financial vulnerabilities and fostering economic resilience across the continent.

“This mechanism is envisioned to support member states in achieving their national development objectives, and it will also help create economic opportunities for citizens,” he said.

The Nigerian leader acknowledged the significant progress made at the 5th Extraordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Finance, held in November 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria, which reached key decisions.

“The adoption of the AFSM by member states is expected to enhance financial stability, strengthen resilience against external shocks, and provide a more coordinated approach to managing financial risks across the continent,” he said.

Nigeria Rejects Split Of AU’s Political Affairs Department is first published on The Whistler Newspaper