Progress towards unified Africa

ETHIOPIA: African nations will set up a new regional body to begin hashing out details of bringing 53 countries on the continent under a single, pan-African government, the head of the African Union said Sunday.

The idea of establishing a unity government in Africa has been discussed for years among the region’s leaders, but it is unclear if such an authority would have any powers over national governments.

Leaders at an AU summit agreed Sunday to set up a new African Union Authority - replacing the AU Commission - to begin considering how best to bring the continent’s countries under a single, unity government, said Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who currently heads the AU.

The new Authority, to be launched by midyear, would have slightly more power than the current AU executive to deal with issues such as poverty, infectious diseases, education, governance and legal issues, Kikwete said, without giving details.

He did not say how the Authority would be funded.

Addis ababa, Monday, AP