African Union split in Togo row

By Martin Plaut
BBC News

Obasanjo (R) rebuked Konare in Togo's capital, Lome

A split has developed in the African Union, with its chairman publicly rebuking the head of its commission.

The row between chairman Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nigerian president, and Alpha Oumar Konare is the union's most public since its formation in 2002.

It concerns who has the final say on Togo, which has been in turmoil since controversial elections in April.

President Obasanjo was reportedly angry he had not been consulted over the appointment of a special envoy.

Compromise

This crisis has been building over several weeks, but burst into the open on Friday.

Speaking in the Togolese capital, Lome, President Obasanjo issued an unprecedented public rebuke to Mr Konare, saying the commission head had made "a statement which we have repudiated".

The row stems from the handling of Togo's crisis in the aftermath of its messy and badly-rigged elections.

In May, West African heads of state met in Nigeria and, together with Togolese politicians, produced a plan for a government of national unity.

It was the kind of African compromise the continent's leaders often deploy to defuse conflicts.

Insiders say the Togolese opposition was preparing to accept the idea - and submit their nominee as prime minister - when the African Union announced former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda had been appointed the special envoy for Togo.

President Obasanjo discovered this from the media and was furious that he had not been consulted.

Refusing to become a rubber stamp chairman of the African Union, President Obasanjo mobilised West African heads of state and issued the rebuke to Mr Konare.