Meeting of the Assembly of the African Union Begins

DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION

Press Release No: /2020 Date: 09/02/2020

Venue: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of Stateand Government of the African Union opened today at the AU Headquarters inAddis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meeting which will run from the 9th to 10th Februaryis being held under the 2020 theme of the year, “Silencing the Guns: CreatingConducive Conditions for Africa’s Development. “

In his opening address the newly elected Chairperson of theAfrican Union, H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa,outlined the priorities that will need to be the focus of the Union to bolsterthe progress being made in driving Africa’s growth trajectory within theframework of Agenda 2063 including:

• Deepening the unity of the continent;

• Advancing inclusive economic growth and sustainabledevelopment

• Ensuring political and economic unity, good governance andpeace

• Supporting integration, industrialisation, economicdevelopment, trade and investment

• Development of an appropriate strategy for the fourthindustrial revolution

• Economic and financial inclusion for women andmainstreaming the interests of women• Conflict resolution

• Championing the position of Africa as a strong andinfluential player in the global arena

On the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) whichwill become operational in July 2020, Mr. Ramaphosa noted that the AfCFTA willbe a major driver for reigniting industrialization and paving the way forAfrica’s integration into the global economy as a player of considerable weightand scale. He however noted that with the potential of the AfCFTA to boostintra-African trade should not become a conduit for products with minimalAfrican content under the guise of continental integration and reiterated theneed to clearly define what standards will be applied to define whatconstitutes a product that is proudly made in Africa. Mr Ramaphosa announcedthat South Africa will host the Extra Ordinary Summit on the AfCFTA to be heldback to back with the Extra Ordinary Summit on Silencing the Guns in May 2020.

On the issue of empowerment of women and girls in Africa,the AU Chairperson emphasised the need to move beyond the clichés and generalstatements and work towards achieving practical solutions such as theimplementation of awarding 25% of public procurement to women owned businessesin line with Agenda 2063. He affirmed the commitment of the Union to work withH.E. Mr. Nana Akufo Addo, President, of the Republic of Ghana and the AfricanUnion Champion on Gender and Development issues on in Africa

While speaking on the Theme of the Year, Mr. Ramaphosa notedthat along with Africa taking charge of its peace and security agenda andfinding African solutions to African problems, there was an urgent need to “..deal with the action of countries outside our continent that are fighting proxywars and fuelling ongoing conflicts on our continent.” He also expressedsolidarity with the people of Palestine in their quest for an independent andsovereign state.

The AU Commission (AUC) Chairperson Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamatspeaking on the theme of the summit emphasised the need for solidarity amongAfrica countries if the continent is to achieve its goals for peaceful andsecure Africa, noting that “the deficit of solidarity is one of the bigweaknesses of the system of resistance and Africa’s overall capacities forcontinental resilience.

Mr. Mahamat noted that the persistence of terrorismthreatens the collapse of some member states and must be eradicated, and thatwomen and children remain the biggest victims of conflict. Mr. Mahamat saidthat the AU continues to exert all efforts to achieve peace in the Horn ofAfrica; the Sahel and the Lake Chad basin; in Western Sahara, where efforts areongoing to implement the Nouakchott decision; Libya, where Africa continues tostress that there can be no military solution and urges dialogue; Somalia whereAMISOM continues to deploy, albeit in very difficult conditions; in the CentralAfrican Republic where efforts have intensified to ensure the rigorousapplication of peace and reconciliation agreements; and in Cameroun, wheredialogue is continuing and attention is required. Mr. Mahamat lauded theAfrican Mediation efforts in Sudan that resulted in the peace agreement andcommended the new authority there that has pledged to continue dialogue withthe rebel groups.

In line with the ongoing efforts by the AU to ensureinclusion of women in Africa’s development agenda, Mr, Mahamat announced that2020 to 2030 has been declared The Decade of Financial Inclusion for Women.

The UN Secretary General Mr Antonio Guterres spoke on theimportance of including women and youth in Africa’s peace initiatives. He saidthat “Peace, social cohesion and sustainable development require women’scontribution and leadership. Women clearly have an essential role to play inconflict prevention and political transitions”, he said. He proceeded to say itis also necessary to engage and empower Africa’s youth, whom he said havebecome advocates for peace through dialogue and addressing the root causes ofconflict. In this respect he commended the 1 million by 2021 initiative of theAfrican Union which aims to reach millions of African youth with opportunities.

Invited speakers who also addressed the Assembly included MrAhmed Abou Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League and Mr Mahmoud Abbas, Presidentof the State of Palestine and Chairperson of the Executive Committee of thePalestine Liberation Organisation (speech delivered by H.E. Mohammad Shtayyeh,Prime Minister of the State of Palestine).

During their sessions today and tomorrow, the Heads of Stateand Government will consider, amongst others:
• The Report on the institutional reform of the AU which will be delivered byH.E. President Paul Kagame, in his role as the leader on the project as well asan update by the Chairperson of the AU Commission Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat onthe status of implementation of the institutional reforms.
• The Report on AfCFTA) by H.E. President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger andleader on the AfCFTA which has been signed by 54 of the 55 countries thatconstitute the AU and ratified by 28 countries.

The bureau of the Assembly of the African Union for 2020 wasannounced during the Assembly: Chair - South Africa; Vice Chair - DemocraticRepublic of Congo; Second Vice Chair - Mali; 3rd Vice Chair - Kenya;Rapporteur- Egypt. It was also announced the Democratic Republic of Congo willbe the Chair of the Union in 2021.

During the opening session, the Assembly observed a minuteof silence in honour of the recently deceased former President of the Republicof Kenya Mr Daniel Arap Moi who served as Chairperson of the Organisation ofAfrican Unity in 1981. The AUC, Chairperson congratulated the Ethiopian PrimeMinister Mr Abiy Ahmed on winning the Nobel Peace Prize.