Meet the new head of the African Union. He takes over from South Africa’s Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. “African Union leaders chose Chad’s candidate to chair the 54-nation body on Monday at a summit where the divisive issues of Africa’s relationship to the International Criminal Court and Morocco’s readmission to the AU were on the agenda. In the last round of voting, Chadian Foreign Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat beat Kenya’s top diplomat Amina Mohamed to secure the post as head of the commission of the AU, which is headquartered in the Ethiopian capital. A Chadian official told a group of reporters that his nation’s candidate had secured 39 votes in the final round. Faki, born in 1960, has served as foreign minister since 2008. His previous posts also included a stint as prime minister.” (Reuters http://reut.rs/2kLi4AU)
Welcome back to the club…The African Union decided Monday to allow Morocco back in the fold after a 33-year absence, despite stiff resistance from some member states over the status of Western Sahara. (AFP https://yhoo.it/2kLlKlY)
UN Says 20,000 Refugees Affected by New US Policy…The UN Refugee Agency just calculated the global impact of Donald Trump’s new executive order. As many as 20,000 people will be prevented from resettling to the United States during over the next four months. “This week alone, over 800 refugees were set to make America their new home, but instead find themselves barred from traveling to the U.S. UNHCR estimates that 20,000 refugees in precarious circumstances might have been resettled to the United States during the 120 days covered by the suspension announced Friday, based on average monthly figures for the last 15 years. Refugees are anxious, confused and heartbroken at this suspension in what is already a lengthy process.” (UN Dispatch http://bit.ly/2kMNrH4)
Quote of the day: “African borders remain open for those in need of protection when so many borders are being closed, even in the most developed countries in the world,” said UN chief Antonio Guterres speaking at the AU meeting. (AFP https://yhoo.it/2kke4GM)
This Man Directed Refugee Policy for George H.W. Bush. He explains how the Refugee Ban is totally unprecedented. (UN Dispatch http://bit.ly/2kLQ8ZA)