African Union Commission Chairperson Suspends Nuclear Secretariat Boss

Mr. Enobot Agboraw. Image:PUBLIC DOMAIN
African Union Commission (AUC) has suspended Mr. Enobot Agboraw, the Executive Secretary of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy Secretariat (AFCONE), a Cameroonian newspaper The Voice reported on Monday. The decision, reportedly initiated by the Chairperson of the AUC H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, has ignited a fierce debate over its legality and raised concerns about potential abuses of power within the AU’s administrative structure. The suspension has triggered widespread discussion among diplomatic and nuclear energy circles concerning challenges facing the governance of AFCONE and the broader African nuclear energy development objectives.
The recent suspension of Mr. Enobot Agboraw by the African Union Commission (AUC) echoes a pattern of controversial decision-making within the organization. This is not the first instance where the AUC’s actions have come under scrutiny. In a similar vein, the AUC’s Chairperson, H.E. Mahamat Faki, faced criticism in 2023 for his handling of appointments and suspensions, with the African Union tribunal condemning his “serious obstruction of justice.” The tribunal’s judgment highlighted Faki’s tendency to appoint individuals based on connections rather than qualifications, casting doubt on the integrity of the AU Commission’s recruitment processes.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Mahamat Faki, also suspended the Rules of Procedure of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) on 6 October 2023, despite the adoption of amended rules by the parliament’s plenary in November 2022, Mr. Faki’s memorandum effectively halted the implementation of these changes, raising concerns about the autonomy and independence of the continental legislative organ. The failure to provide clear justification for the suspension, coupled with the lack of respect for the PAP’s authority as the third highest organ of the Union, fueled criticism of Mr. Faki’s leadership and decision-making processes by elected legislators and the diplomatic community .
Such revelations shed light on a broader issue of governance within the AU, where transparency and adherence to due process are called into question.