Congo (Brazzaville) to head AU

The African Union (AU) has agreed that instead of installing Sudan as the president of its organization, the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Republic of Congo (RoC), while not suffering from the violence plaguing the DRC still has issues with human rights groups. According to the CIA factbook, the country has, until a 2003 cease-fire, been plagued with civil war. Furthermore, as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have noted, the country has a dubious (at best) record on human rights. It has been obvious that the AU cannot let Sudan (the host of the AU conference in Khartoum) become the leader of the AU, it was only today that Sudan bowed to the pressure and declined to become the head of the AU. Until now, it was common practice that the host of the AU summit led the group. To interject a little commentary, I have respect for how the AU has handled the situation in Darfur with the limited forces available. Without the AU, there would be no forces in Darfur providing security. While they have been serving, the U.S. has (appropriately) dropped the G-word (genocide), but done nothing. We say we never want to see another Holocaust or Rwanda, but it is happening in Darfur (and threatens to happen again in Kosovo). [end of commentary]. Back to the commentary of the accession of the RoC to the AU head: the Red Cross was forced, in the last few days (on January 18, 2006), to quit their activitiesin the Pool Region of the RoC. As reported:

e ICRC had been assisting medical centres with services for around 60,000 people in Pool. It has also been providing clean water to many local communities.

Pool is a stronghold of former rebels known as the Ninjas, many of whom are yet to be disarmed and demobilized, although the RoC's civil war ended in 2003. (italics added)

The ninjas, named after the Japanese warriors, are the rebel group in the southeastern Republic of Congo near the capital who fought against government forces in the civil war. While it is hard to find an admirable leader in human rights in Africa (no disrespect meant), there are better than the Republic of Conga (Brazzaville) to fill in Sudan’s spot. My suggestions would be South Africa, Uganda or Liberia. All have their problems, but South Africa has a solid post-apartheid government that is democratic (with its warts). Uganda has been a leader advocating pro-condom AIDS prevention plans, despite the Bush Administration’s abstinence-only agenda. Liberia has a newly elected democratic government headed by an economist. While I have a predilection towards economists (being one myself), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, as an intelligent woman, can provide the country with a positive future if she manages the post-conflict well.