SA's boogie bad move

It was in bad taste for the South African delegation at the African Union summit on Monday to break into song and dance on hearing that Jean Ping had failed in his bid for a second term as AU Commission chairman.

Sure, it is a major diplomatic victory for South Africa and like-minded countries that Ping won't be at the helm of this important continental body come July.

The former Gabonese minister has been a major disappointment as the head of the commission, which is responsible for the day-to-day running of the African Union.

Established in July 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity, the AU in its earlier years looked destined to usher in a new and exciting era for the continent. One that was dominated by peace, democratic rule and economic integration.

But since Ping's election as the AU Commission's chairman in 2008, the AU has been demonstrating the same kind of weaknesses that led to the OAU's demise.

The continental body has increasingly become too slow to react to crises affecting member states, hence giving outside powers reason to interfere in Africa's affairs.

Among the most recent examples of this were the post-election conflict in Ivory Coast - which were resolved only after a French-led United Nations military action - as well as the democratic uprisings that swept through Tunisia, Egypt and Libya last year.

As the "Arab Spring" in North Africa caught the attention of the entire world in January last year, many looked forward to the AU heads of state summit that was to be held during the same month for the continent's response to this democratic phenomenon.

Bizarrely, the summit failed to discuss what was the most important political development at the time because, as AU Commission officials put it, the North African uprisings were not on the agenda.

And then there was the Libyan crisis.

Ping never seemed to throw his full weight behind the AU's peace plan that would have seen continental leaders mediating between the then Libyan government and rebel groups.

As a result, the AU ended up watching with frustration on the sidelines as members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation helped rebels bring down the Gaddafi regime in a brutal war that cost thousands of lives.

Granted, the AU member states have to take a lot of blame for much of the organisation's weaknesses, but there can be little doubt that with a more visionary and energetic leader at the helm of the commission - instead of Ping - the continental body would have been better positioned to respond to all these problems last year.

But to so publicly sing and dance in celebration in response to Ping's imminent departure was not only undiplomatic, but could harm South Africa's long-term continental ambitions.

Already a number of African states are suspicious of South Africa's intentions, viewing us as a regional bully that wants to take over the running of the continent's affairs.

Minister of Home Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's failure to get the nod as Ping's replacement, despite her impeccable track record on international relations issues as well as intense lobbying by southern African states at the AU, speaks to this suspicion.

According to Minister of International Relations Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, South Africa intends fielding Dlamini-Zuma again as a candidate for the post when it comes up for a vote again at the Lilongwe AU summit, in Malawi, in June.

Although Ping would be ineligible to stand, it cannot be taken for granted that Dlamini-Zuma will get the 35 votes she needs from member states to get the post.

The outcome of Monday's vote demonstrated how deeply divided along regional and past colonial lines Africa is, with most former French colonies backing Ping while Anglophone and Lusophone states backed Dlamini-Zuma. If South Africa is to successfully bridge this divide, its representatives would have to show some humility and respect for the rest of the AU.