AU Monitor Weekly Roundup

This weeks' AU Monitor brings you news and updates from the African Union, as it announces the 10th Ordinary Session of the Assembly in Addis Ababa, holding under the theme: "Industrial Development of Africa". Also, questions are being raised as to whether this summit will cause African leaders to " rethink the continent's approach to an industrial take-off ".

Further, former United-Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has accepted an invitation from AU Chairman John Kufuor to lead an AU panel to negotiate peace in Kenya . Mr. Annan called on both sides of the conflict to "bear in mind the interest of Kenyans and show goodwill".

The Centre for Citizen's Participation in the AU is holding a continental conference on the AU summit in which the main objective is to " create a platform where structured debate and collation of views will be made among stakeholders across the continent". The conference aims to include the meaningful participation of Africa's citizens into decision-making processes of the AU. Lastly, draft agendas for the 12th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and the 10th Ordinary Session of the Assembly are now available.

In regional news, Charles Onyango-Obbo provides commentary of the East African Community's (EAC) involvement in the Kenya crises , stating that the crises has set a record for attracting the most former African presidents but that "the East African Community has had no public role at all" in the process.

In peace and security news, the United Nations and African Union Special Envoys for Darfur recently began a week-long mission to facilitate peace in the region.
Following a meeting of the Forum on Tax Administration of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) participants agreed to set up an international tax centre in Africa, with the aim of building the capacity of tax administrations in African countries.