Category: Government Policy

Addis Ababa: The Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) have elected the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani as the new Chairperson of the African Union (AU) for 2024.

President Azali Assoumani of the Union of Comoros has handed over his chairmanship to Ghazouani at the opening of the 37th AU summit in Addis Ababa today.

Incoming African Union chairperson has promised to discharge his continental responsibility with African passion.

The Chairperson of the African Union is the ceremonial head of the African Union elected by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government for a one-year term. It rotates among the continent’s five regions

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: The African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for a new awakening and renaissance of nationalism, Pan-Africanism, unity and action highlighting the pressing challenges facing the continent.

The AU Chief made the remark at the opening of the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa today.

He quoted an illustrious African teacher and educator, invoking the heritage of the founding fathers, to emphasize the importance of African nationalism and Pan-Africanism for the unification and progress of the continent.

The Chairperson’s speech resonated with the African leaders present at the Summit, highlighting the urgent need for unity, action, and a renewed commitment to addressing the challenges facing Africa. The leaders are expected to deliberate on these issues over the course of the summit and work towards concrete solutions for the betterment of the continent.

Chairperson Mahamat expressed deep
concerns about the prevailing peace, political and institutional instability, climate change, deficits in economic governance, integration, poverty, and the marginalization of women and youth in Africa’s development and leadership processes. He emphasized that these issues continue to be the main sources of concern for the African Union (AU).

In his speech, Mahamat lamented the rise of terrorism in Africa, which is wreaking havoc on several states, diverting resources from vital social sectors, and fueling misleading populist speeches.

He also expressed alarm over the increasing number of unconstitutional changes of government, which undermine the political and legal order that the AU was founded upon.

Chairperson Mahamat criticized the irregularities in elections, stating that instead of being peaceful transfers of power, they have become factors exacerbating crises due to their extent of irregularities.

He questioned the effectiveness of the African peace and security architecture (APSA) and the African
governance architecture (AGA), highlighting the need for urgent action to counter these challenges.

The Chairperson also addressed the institutional achievements of the AU, including successful institutional reforms, progress in integration, the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the operationalization of the Peace Fund. However, he stressed the need for further commitment and contributions from member states and partners to accelerate te process.

Furthermore, he highlighted the importance of operationalizing new organs, particularly in the field of health, to ensure decisions are implemented effectively. He commended the African common positions on climate issues and the successful financing of African peacekeeping missions at the United Nations Security Council.

While acknowledging the progress made, Chairperson Mahamat also pointed out some shortcomings and institutional limitations within the AU. He expressed concern over the limited powers of the Commission and the Chairpers
on, which hinder urgent action on strategic issues. He also highlighted the lack of political will to implement decisions, with 93% of decisions made in the last three years remaining unimplemented.

The Chairperson emphasized the need for Africa to engage in fruitful international partnerships and called for bold thinking and courageous decisions to enhance the credibility and positioning of the AU globally.

He further noted a decline in African solidarity and Pan-Africanism, urging the reconnection with the spirit of unity and collective action that characterized the fight against colonialism and apartheid.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held bilateral meetings with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea today.

The premier also held talks with the Islamic Development Bank President Muhammad Al Jasser on development projects.

Prime Minister Abiy posted on his Facebook account: “I held bilateral meetings with the President of Rwanda and the President of Equatorial Guinea to discuss bilateral ties and also held discussion on development projects with the President of the Islamic Development Bank.” the premier said on social media.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: President Sahle-Work Zewde said that accelerating digital transformation is crucial to ensure inclusive and sustainable development in Africa.

A discussion under the theme “Expansion of Digitalization for Africa Transformation” is in progress at the Pan-African Hall in the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum.

President Sahle-Work Zewde said technology has an irreplaceable role in harnessing Africa’s potential.

Speeding up digitalization is convenient for dealing with pressures and providing quick solutions for problems, she noted, adding that the expansion of digitalization will play a significant role in creating the prosperous Africa we want in 2063.

The president recalled that the continental digital transformation roadmap 2023-2030 has been under implementation.

According to her, Ethiopia has designed a digital 2025 strategy that is in line with the continent’s conviction.

Accordingly, the country has been carrying out extensive activities on the expansion of telecom infrastructure, internet a
ccess, and artificial intelligence.

However, digitalization that has a positive role for economic growth will create security risk unless we use it properly, the president said.

She asked leaders of the continent so that the generation will excel in technology.

Digital transformation should be accelerated in order to ensure sustainable development in Africa, she added.

Leaders of member countries of the African Union are expected to reflect on the role of digitalization in making the continental transition in Africa a reality.

High government officials and heads of institutions as well as Mayor Adanech Abebe are attending the discussion organized by Ethiopia on the sidelines of the 37th AU Summit.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: The peacefulness of Africa remains the very foundation to realizing agenda 2063, Africa’s master plan for transforming the continent into the global powerhouse of the future, Comorian President and outgoing African Union Chairperson, Azali Assoumani underscored.

The outgoing chairperson recalled that the theme of the year during his term was devoted to the acceleration implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) and also maritime governance, climate change with particular interest for the promotion and preservation of peace and security on the continent.

‘This shared security concern has guided all our activities during our term and convinced that the peacefulness of our continent remains the very basis of realizing our vision by 2063 for a united and prosperous Africa.’

Agenda 2063 is the continent’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development.

Thus, since the election as the AU chairperson, Azali Assoumani mentioned ab
out the efforts made to end conflicts in some countries in the continent.

The outgoing chairperson also indicated his participation in the UNSC chaired by Mozambique which was devoted to the fight against terrorism and violent extremism across Africa.

On that occasion, “I pleaded for establishment of perennial and sustainable financial mechanisms to maintain peace in the continent.”

In the dynamic of promoting peace and security, I have also met with the two generals in Sudan and with other various actors in the country to commit them to the path of dialogue in order to silence the guns.

In a similar spirit, I went to Guinea Conakry in June, and recently to Gabon, to encourage their leaders to speed up the transition process and to bring them back to the fold and to restore constitutional order.

The same efforts made in countries in the Sahel region. With regard to the conflict in Eastern part of Congo, close contact made with Angola’s President who is mandated by the AU, he noted.

Efforts were also mad
e to the resolution of the conflict and restore stability and development in that great African nation in Libya, he added.

He has also mentioned his efforts made to advocate the acceleration of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by sending envoys to countries that did not ratified it and results gained in the ratification and tariff issues and in accelerating the process.

“I have also advocated for increased public and private investments especially in the areas of infrastructures and the reform of the international financial institutions for African countries,” he added.

The chairmanship term has been an opportunity for considering Africa’s potential for its development, including the blue economy, and the vast maritime area, he noted.

African Development Bank has been supporting Africa’s development, the outgoing Chair pointed out.

The year 2023 has been decisive for our continent because Africa’s agenda have been presented everywhere, he underscored citing the admission of AU in the Group20
as a success.

Other successes were also registered at multilateral level, including in meetings held across the world, he concluded.

I wanted to mark our interest in the growth in private investment, national and foreign investments in order to create jobs and wealth sharing on the continent, he explained.

The potential of the African youth is an asset that we have to use in all our projects, Azali said.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: The Brazilian President Luiz Ina´cio Lula da Silva underscored at the 37th Summit of the African Union (AU) today, that ‘there is no a global south without the African continent.”

Heads of State and Government of the AU are holding their 37th Ordinary Session today at the Union headquarters here in Addis Ababa.

In his keynote speech, Brazilian President Luiz Ina´cio Lula da Silva said Africa is a key partner for South-South cooperation.

‘My friends! I would like to say that there is no global south without the African continent,’ he underlined.

To go back and reclaim the closest ties between Brazil and Africa, President Lula da Silva said that the two sides would contribute more for the world to be fair.

Africa with immense potential in many areas, he revealed that his country is looking forward to consolidating cooperation.

Mentioning the new multi-polarity is the best approach for the 21st century, the president noted that BRICS is the space of the emerging countries and undeniable advanc
ement.

As Africa is an important part of the world to the global south, he said it is vital to build only an inclusive social project to allow us to build a prosperous society that is free, democratic and sovereign

Source: Ethiopian News Agency