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| Stunted growth of the Arab Maghreb Union
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By Azeddine Bensouiah
PANA Correspondent
Algiers, Algeria (PANA) -
The Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) not
only took a long time to be devised, but it is probably the
only regional grouping that has been excessively beset with
growing pains.
The idea to create UMA dates back to 1958 when Morocco and
Tunisia gained independence. At that time Algeria was fighting
one of the bloodiest wars for freedom in Africa from French
colonialism.
Only 30 years later did the dream of Maghreb unity materialise
on the fringes of an extraordinary Arab meeting.
The leaders of the five Maghreb countries -- Mauritania,
Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya -- met 10 June 1988 in
Zeralda (Algiers) to lay the foundation for what would later
become the Arab Maghreb Union.
On 17 February 1989 they had another meeting in Marrakech,
Morocco, when the creation of UMA was formally sealed. The
Union's treaty came into force on 1 July the same year and
Morocco assumed the chairmanship of the sub-regional grouping
for the initial six months.
On 23 January 1990 Tunis hosted the first UMA summit which
culminated in the adoption of several resolutions on
formation of structures of the union and organisation of the
general secretariat.
On 23 July Algiers hosted the second summit which endorsed
the agreements reached by the ministerial commissions,
including the amendment of the rules and regulations of the
consultative committee and the creation of the Union's
institutions. That summit was also approved a long-term
economic strategy of UMA.
UMA leaders held their third summit in Ras Lanouf, Libya,
on 10 March 1991 and adopted several accords for
strengthening their union. UMA however was still marking time.
It was the fourth summit on 15 September 1991 in Casablanca
that decided on the location of UMA institutions. The fifth
summit took place 10 November 1992 in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
Following amendments to the Union's treaty, Tunisia took
over the chair on 10 January 1993 and guided the union's
activities for one year.
On 10 March 1994 Algeria took over the helm, a few days
before the sixth summit was held on 2 April in Tunis. At
that summit, the leaders of UMA signed 26 agreements and
enlarged the consultative committee to 150 members.
During the 16th session of the UMA Foreign ministers, held
on 12 November 1994 in Algiers, Egypt formally applied to
join the UMA grouping.
Two weeks later (28 November), UMA and the European Union
signed a co-operation and alliance charter in Tunis.
On 28 December 1994 UMA signed a co-operation agreement
with the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
On 13 July in 1996 UMA member countries adopted in Rabat,
Morocco, a co-operation agreement with the West African
Economic Union.
After being put on ice since then at the behest of Morocco,
UMA activities were only re-launched last year by Algeria
that still holds the Union's rotating chairmanship.
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| Algiers - 21/06/2002 |
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