The Gambia is one of few countries that have no arrears in their yearly contributions with the African Union. This has transpired after a list of bad payers was released on Monday at the African Union head quarters in Addis Ababa.

Nine AU member countries have been indicted and threatened with sanctions for owing two years of outstanding contributions to the continental body budget.

The report of the sub-committee for contribution, said the indicted countries are Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Eritrea, Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles and Sudan.

The AU executive Committee had moved to sanction Cape Verde, DR Congo, Eritrea, Sao Tome and Principe and Seychelles during the July 2007 summit in Banjul but is still to enforce the proposed penalties.

DR Congo and Cape Verde have paid part of their arrears, but still have two years of outstanding contributions.

The AU contributions sub-committee rejected DR Congo's September 2007 request to have its contribution arrears written off on grounds that it is emerging from a conflict.

However, Burundi and Sierra Leone are once again offered "exceptional provisional exemption" provided they redeem their arrears within the deadlines.

According to the sub-committee, total unpaid arrears as of 31 December 2007 were over 32.5 million US dollars.