Two new members admitted in Sahel-Sahara union

The Sen-Sad Union (also known as the community of Sahel and Sahara community) admitted on Wednesday, as it opened its summit here, Togo and Benin as new member countries.

After Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir, it is now Libyan president, Muaammar Gadhafi, who took over the Union chairmanship.

Thirteen African heads of state and six ministers and heads of government are taking part in the summit that will wrap up this Thursday. Morocco's premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi is representing King Mohammed VI in the session and will read out, on his behalf, a speech.

The Libyan leader called for the free movement of persons and goods in the member countries, provided that African conflicts are settled and a common agricultural market is set up.

Director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Jacques Diouf, insisted that 60% of the Sen-Sad union member-countries live in rural areas and 15% do not have enough food. The conference will set in place the young organization's institutions and means to achieve economic integration among its member states.

Sen-Sad is today the largest regional market in Africa with more than 320 million consumers. Established in the Libyan capital city of Tripoli in February 1998, it groups Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, Djibouti, Eritrea, Gambia, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Somalia, Togo and Benin.