ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia
The Executive Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the African Union was held in Addis Ababa from Wednesday to Thursday.
The Council of ministers
coordinates and takes decisions on policies in areas of common interest to
Member States.
The resurgence of military
coups, pre- and post-election violence, humanitarian crises linked to war and
the effects of climate change, were highlighted.
AU Commission chair Moussa
Faki Mahamat reckoned that "they pose a serious threat to tarnish the
signs of the emergence of the Africa of which we are proud."
Comoros Minister of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation, and Chair of the Executive Council, also
underscored terrorism, violent extremism, and unconstitutional changes of
government as a challenge to the democratic processes on the continent.
“We have spared no effort to
find a lasting solution to the various crises that are currently affecting the
continent," Dhoihir Dhoulkamal said.
"In Cairo, Addis Ababa
and Djibouti, the war in Sudan has mobilized energies to bring the positions of
the warring parties closer together."
The emerging cracks on
regional integration was discussed in the two-day ministerial session.
Faki sounded the alarm on a
"new phenomenon of collapse of institutions of regional and continental
governance.”
On
January 28th, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger jointly announced their
"immediate" withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African
States.
Officially though, the ECOWAS
treaty provides that its member states who wish to quit the bloc shall give its
leadership a one-year written notice, at the end of which "such a state
shall cease to be a member of the community."
Faki says the phenomenon is
"affecting almost all regional economic communities".
Blocs
in turmoil include the east African community in which Burundi and Rwanda are
once again in a standoff.
As the war in eastern DRC
continues to displace thousands of Congolese, the Democratic Republic of Congo
maintains the M23 rebel group, one of the most active in the region is
sponsored by Kigali.
Rwanda has repeatedly denied
the accusation.
“Educate and Skill Africa for
the 21st Century” is the AU's theme of the year.
The Executive Secretary of the
UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) called for greater impact of Africa. He
argued the continent “cannot afford to play small in this 4th industrial
revolution.”
"We can build
technological capabilities that foster value addition in strategic sectors like
agribusiness, manufacturing, green transitions, global health etc. We can
generate economies of scale and agglomeration because we have the necessary
workforce," Claver Gatete said.
"When we integrate TVET
[Editor's note: Technical-Vocational Education and Training] within a
modernized education system, we ensure capable labour markets for micro, small
and medium-sized enterprises to become more competitive," he added.
On advancing multilateral
cooperation, the AU commission chair noted the G20 membership of the
continental bloc.
“Our membership at the G20,
for which we have made intense advocacy, imposes on us more rationality, method
and constant vigilance in the turbulent sphere of international relations of
the moment.”
His sentiments were echoed by
Taye Atske-Selassie, Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs who noted that “the
African union participation in the G20 will provide us with a unique platform
to contribute to global economic governance and decisions."
He also pleaded to
"enhance [the] working relationship with the BRICS to advance South-South
cooperation" and "to further advance, interest of our continent and
strings and global governance.”
Ethiopia and Egypt officially
joined the bloc this year.
The work by the council of
ministers of Foreign Affairs includes preparing the ordinary session of the
assembly of the heads of state and government of the African Union.
The 37th AU summit will kick
off on Saturday (Feb. 17).
The assembly of heads of state
and government will further deliberate on the roadmap for the theme of the year
2024 on Education, preparations for the elections of the Members of the African
Union Commission, the institutional and financial reforms of the Union, as well
as range of issues including agriculture and health advancements.
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