ADDIS ABABA — Egypt is disappointed with the African Union’s (AU’s) decision to temporarily revoke its membership following the military overthrow of President Mohamed Mursi, but this will not affect long-term relations, says ambassador Mohamed Edrees, Egypt’s permanent representative to the AU.
The continental body became the first international actor to condemn the ousting of Mursi when the AU Peace and Security Council opted to immediately suspend Egypt from participation in all AU activities on Friday last week.
"We think this application of African Union articles and protocols is not right: Egypt is a special case and deserves a special way to address it," Mr Edrees told Business Day. "The African Union is not used to addressing change by the mandate of the will of the people. This is a new challenge from a political and legal aspect to the African Union’s existing rules and instruments."
He seemed bemused by the AU’s decision: "The reaction should have been the same (as in January 2011). What is happening now is a continuation of that revolution which was considered as a popular uprising by the African Union."
AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Ramtane Lamamra explained why the council viewed the current situation as different from that which led to the removal from power of Egypt’s long-term dictator, Hosni Mubarak, during the Arab Spring uprisings: "The principle guide for the PSC (Peace and Security Council) was the fact that there is now an elected president who continues to claim that he is the legitimate leader and has supporters that agree with him. (In February 2011) the president (Mr Mubarak) officially resigned under pressure from the people," he said.
Prior to the military’s intervention, the AU had offered to help establish a process of national dialogue, Mr Lamamra told Business Day, emphasising the body’s continued readiness to assist with Egypt’s return to democratic governance.
"Suspending (a member state) when there has been an unconstitutional change of government is not meant to be a punitive action. It is a positive step to help all the stakeholders get out of the emotions of the event. That’s why African Union doctrine provides for suspension but at the same time engagement."
The AU is planning to dispatch a panel of "eminent personalities" to assist Egypt with its transition and prepare for elections. Mr Lamamra said the delegation could help organise an inclusive national dialogue and a reconciliation process. However, it is not clear if the AU’s panel will be warmly received in Cairo.
"We proposed to have the mission visit Egypt before the decision of the council was made so that it could have a more informed decision," said Mr Edrees, adding that the interim government would decide whether or not to work with the AU panel.
One of the key questions remains the terms under which Egypt will be readmitted to the AU fold. "If the AU applies it rules strictly then Egypt will not be allowed to participate until elections are held," says Solomon Dersso, senior researcher with the Institute for Security Studies in Addis Ababa.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, chairwoman of the AU Commission, indicated on Friday that this regulation would be adhered too. "Nobody will sit behind the (Egyptian) flag — neither the previous government nor the present interim government — until there is an election," she said.
Some analysts believe that Egypt could legitimately cite Mali — which had its suspension lifted following the establish of a weak transitional government — as a precedent for an earlier return to the organisation.
And Egypt, which Mr Dersso says has expressed an interest in taking over the chair of the AU from Ethiopia next year, believes that it should receive the same treatment as Mali. "If they are going to make Egypt wait until there are elections then there is no chance of Egypt becoming the chairperson," Mr Dersso said.
Mr Lamamra would not rule out the possibility of a pre-election readmission. "What the chairperson said corresponds to the normal rules. But there may be exceptions for exceptional reasons," he said, adding that the Peace and Security Council would make the decision under Dr Dlamini-Zuma’s advisement.
Whatever the decision, Egypt does not feel that it s long-term relations with the AU will be damaged. "A temporary suspension of activities in the African Union doesn’t mean a suspension of interaction with the African Union," Mr Edrees insisted. " The contribution of Egypt to Africa is unquestionable."
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