<<Print>>

Ghana�s former President and African Union High Representative for Somalia, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings on Monday participated in a ceremony marking the admission of South Sudan to the African Union. South Sudan President, Salva Kiir attended the ceremony in Addis Ababa during, which South Sudan was presented with a certificate of membership by the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Jean Ping. The South Sudan flag was then raised at the AU Headquarters in an emotional ceremony. South Sudan gained independence from North Sudan on July 9 after an AU brokered peace process. South Sudan becomes the 54th member of the continental body. Former President Rawlings said, in discussions with President Salva Kiir, he indicated his desire to support conflict resolution on the continent. The South Sudan President�s comments we followed by an announcement by his Foreign Minister, Deng Alor Kuol that his country was ready to send troops to Somalia to join the 9000 AMISOM troops on the ground. "We, as Africans, must be in the lead to alleviate problems before we ask the Western world, or anyone else, to come and help us,� he told the BBC. President Rawlings who was in Ethiopia to participate in the �One Africa � One Voice Against Hunger� Day, aimed at further highlighting the famine in the Horn of Africa, has since left Addis Ababa for South Africa where he is due to meet South African President Jacob Zuma.