The Heads of State and Government from across the African Continent are currently in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa for the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
President Salva Kiir, who is the current Chairperson of the East African Community (EAC), is expected to hold sideline meetings with EAC and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) leaders to discuss the Sudan crisis and regional peace and security.
President Museveni is represented at the summit by Vice President Jessica Alupo who was warmly received by the Minister of Women, Youth and Culture of Ethiopia.
Pre-Launch of AU 2024 Theme of the Year
The Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government (C10), dedicated to advancing Education, Science, and Technology, on Friday evening convened for its session.
This session, scheduled prior to the official commencement and pre-launch of the 2024 Theme of the Year focusing on Education, brought together the current C10 members.
The distinguished leaders from Senegal, Sierra Leone, Chad, Egypt, Tunisia, Malawi, Namibia, Kenya, and Mauritius will participate in this pivotal meeting.
During the session held at the African Union Headquarters Multipurpose Hall, the committee members deliberated on the 2024 AU Theme of the Year, advocating for education as a vital investment to catalyse socio-economic development across Africa.
Among the key speakers were; African Union Chairperson, H.E Azali Assoumani President of the union of Comoros; the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat and the President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H.E President Sahle-Work Zewde, in her dual roles as the host country’s leader and chair of the UNESCO group of Experts responsible for the 2021 Report on the Futures of Education.
They affirmed their support for the Education roadmap, pledging to ensure its effective execution within AU Member States.
Established by the African Union in 2016, the C10 plays a crucial role in promoting education, science, technology, and innovation as key elements in achieving the vision of “the Africa We Want,” as outlined in Agenda 2063.
The committee’s composition reflects the AU’s commitment to regional representation, with two Heads of State from each of the five AU regions.
This assembly underscores the continent’s dedication to fostering educational and technological growth as foundational pillars for a prosperous and sustainable future.
Progress, challenges, and prospects of Africa’s development
African Union (AU) Summit will discuss and make far-reaching decisions on the security situation on the continent as some of its member states continue to face security challenges.
At the opening of the Executive Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the resurgence of military coups, pre- and post-election violence, humanitarian crises linked to war and the effects of climate change, were highlighted as serious threats that may reverse the gains accumulated in the development agenda of the continent.
H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission underscored the need to holistically address issues on the continent paying attention to the global dynamics which exacerbate the worrying situations. He highlighted the security deficits in Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, and the Sahel region, which are currently embroiled in armed conflicts and terrorism.
The Chairperson noted that “the resurgence of military coups, pre- and post-election violence, humanitarian crises linked to war and the effects of climate change, are all very serious sources of concern for us. They pose a serious threat to tarnish the signs of the emergence of the Africa of which we are proud. At a time when all these tragedies are killing in large numbers and throwing thousands of people into precariousness and misery. Another new phenomenon of collapse of our institutions of regional and continental governance is taking place, one that is affecting almost all regional economic communities (RECs).”
In 2024, the African Union is set to unveil the Special Project on Agenda 2063, as the second decade of the framework’s implementation.
H.E. Faki observed that the conditions for implementation of the first decade of Agenda 2063 had not been favourable for the optimal achievement of the objectives set under the various programmes. The challenges will inform the strategy of the second phase of implementation. Read statement here.