South African President Ramaphosa to play 'key role' at AU Summit
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected participate in several committee meetings at the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa this weekend.
These include the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), which will be held to reaffirm Africa’s position on Climate Change as advocated during the COP28 held in the United Arab Emirates.
President Ramaphosa will also present a report on the progress mde in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic on the continent in his capacity as the champion of the AU’s COVID-19 response.
As the pandemic wanes on the continent, South Africa intends to work with the AU Commission towards expanding the role of the President to include all other health pandemics that are affecting the continent.
The President is also expected to chair a high-level meeting of the Committee of Five (C5) on South Sudan to review and provide political guidance on the progress made in the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan.
The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU will be held under the theme, “Educate an Africa fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa.”
The Assembly is expected to discuss the status of peace and security on the continent and the consideration of the Report of the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC). The discussion will take place against the backdrop of great concern regarding the state of peace and security on the Continent.
The highlight of the 37th Ordinary Session will be the launch of the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of the AU’s Agenda 2063: “The Africa we want.” Agenda 2063 serves as a fifty-year blueprint for Africa’s socio-economic development and integration, adopted by the AU member states after extensive consultations across the continent.
Pretoria has elevated the implementation of Agenda 2063 as one of the foremost priorities in the advancement of the African Agenda.
A key flagship project of Agenda 2063 in which South Africa is playing a leading role is the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (the AfCFTA), that serves as a milestone development in the evolution of the AU.
President Ramaphosa has agreed to co-host the AfCFTA Business Forum to be held from 15 to 18 April in Cape Town. It is envisaged that the Forum will be attended by 1,000 delegates including political principals, captains of industry, CEOs of major banks on the Continent and representatives from private sector.
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