Jean Ping, the newly elected chairman of the African Union Commission, has said this weekend is critical for resolving the situation in Kenya and has called on both sides to agree on the exact terms of the recently agreed power-sharing plan. The remaining disagreement is likely to center around the amount of power to give the new position of prime minister.

Ping hopes that final agreement will be achieved next week. The AU has noted that the conflict in Kenya has hurt the region’s economy causing an economic slowdown.

For more information, please see:

Impunity Watch – BRIEF: Prime Minister Post Approved by Kenyan Negotiators – 21 February 2008

BBC News – AU head urges Kenya peace deal – 22 February 2008

Reuters – Africa’s top diplomat pushes Kenya rivals to agree – 22 February 2008