Algiers, 16 April 2023 (SPS) - Algeria expressed deep astonishment at the "casual" and "rash" decision of the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Mahamat Faki to receive the so-called "credentials" of a Moroccan diplomat falsely presenting herself as "permanent representative" of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) to the African Union (AU), said Sunday the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad in a statement.
Algeria expresses deep astonishment at the casual and thoughtless decision of the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Mahamat Faki to receive the so-called "credentials" of a Moroccan diplomat falsely claiming to be the "Permanent Representative" of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) to the African Union," the statement said.
"This irresponsible behavior is all the more inadmissible that it comes after the urgent steps of the Algerian authorities to the African Union Commission in order to consider this alleged appointment which, according to the texts governing the functioning of the Arab Maghreb Union, does not fall within the prerogatives of the Secretary General of AMU, whose final term ended August 1, 2022, without the possibility of extension, but which by this umpteenth sham serves the agenda set by her country of residence," said the source.
In this regard, Algeria wishes to "clarify that it was never consulted about this appointment which breaches the rules provided by the Treaty establishing the AMU of February 1989, which require in this case the unanimous vote of member states at the Council of Foreign Ministers of the AMU, only body empowered to decide both on this appointment and on the establishment of cooperative relations with other regional and international groups, as provided for in particular by Article 6 of the Treaty establishing AMU, Articles 5 and 7 of the General Statute establishing the powers of the Secretary-General of AMU and the resolution of the Presidency Council dated 23 February 1990.
Algeria also refutes the term "interim" used by the African Union Commission as a legal mechanism to deal with the former Secretary General of AMU. It stresses that the Treaty of February 1989 establishing AMU does not provide for this position.
"By accepting this crude staging protocol, the chairman of the Commission of the African Union gives in to an operation of unhealthy manipulation, designed and implemented for purposes that do not serve the interests of the Arab Maghreb Union and the African Union, to which Algeria reiterates its unwavering commitment.
"Algeria expects the AU Commission to clarify its final position on this flagrant and unacceptable violation of protocol and legal rules, without prejudice to possible measures depending on the evolution of this case," the statement source said.
062/SPS/APS