The African Union (AU) has formally admitted South Sudan as the 54th member, barely a month after the Southern third of Sudan split in accordance with a peace agreement signed in 2005. The Commission informed South Sudan's Foreign Ministry that it has received the requisite number of communications from 33 member states, including the Government of Sudan, more than the required simple majority of member states, in support of the admission of South Sudan to the African Union.

'A ceremony will be organised as soon as possible with the Chairperson of the AU Commission Jean Ping for the deposit by the Government of South Sudan of the instrument of accession of the Constitutive Act of the African Union,' the AU said in a statement.

South Sudan's entry into AU is in keeping with the relevant Articles of the founding Treaty of the Union, known as the Constitutive Act.

South Sudan has accepted the rules of engagement with respect to the process of accession to the Constitutive Act and admission as a member state of the Union.

'Following a request by the Republic of South Sudan to become part of the African Union  family of Member States, the Commission has received the requisite number of written communications supporting the admission of South Sudan to the African Union as the 54th AU Member State,' the AU said in the statement.

A communication has already been sent to the Republic of South Sudan, all member states, permanent observers and international organisations, informing them of the membership of South Sudan in the African Union.

The AU Commission Chairperson, upon receipt of a notification from the country of its interest to join the Union, sent out copies of the notice to all members.

Admission is decided by a simple majority of the member states. 

Meanwhile, the decision of each member state is transmitted to the chairperson of the commission, who shall upon receipt of the required number of votes, communicate the decision to the state concerned.

Pana 28/07/2011