AU commission chairman suggests creation of African passport

Chairman of the African Union (AU) Commission Alpha Oumar Konare on Saturday suggested the creation of an African passport to ease movement of goods and people on thecontinent.

While visiting Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo at his OttaFarm, Konare, who assumed office in July last year, said African leaders should work together for the progress of the continent, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.

He briefed Obasanjo on preparations for the next AU summit in July and the activities of the secretariat, and commended Obasanjofor his leadership role in the AU.

Responding, Obasanjo pledged that his country would continue toplay its leadership role in Africa, stressing that the future of the continent was hinged on its unity, through economic integration.

He said ethnic strife, political instability and underdevelopment were posing serious threats to the continent's development.

He urged his colleagues to "start to think seriously about our successors and training a successor generation."

Obasanjo stressed the need for the protection and well being ofthe populace, the guarantee of which, he said, would lead to speedy development.

Source: Xinhua