The 42nd ordinary session of the Executive Council of the African Union brought together senior diplomats from its member states for two days.
Speaking at AU headquarters, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chair of the AU Commission, highlighted achievements made in assessing the first ten years of the organization’s development agenda, Agenda 2063. He also acknowledged that there were still problems.
“The AU has been looking for long-term solutions by establishing institutions and increasing the production capacity of the food and medicine industries in order to meet the needs of the African people.”
The African Center for Disease Control (CDC) Headquarters construction is currently almost finished, the African Medicines Agency (AMA) headquarters hosting nation has been chosen, and the establishment is moving forward steadily.
The creation of the continental trade zone was another important issue. In fact, 44 AU member states had deposited their ratification documents as of November 2022, even though 54 AU member states had signed the AfCFTA agreement.
allowing the free trade agreement’s goals to be realized in its entirety
Antonio Pedro, the acting executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), urged African nations to work together to realize the continental free trade area.
According to him, the AfCFTA’s continental market offers economies of scale in manufacturing, resulting in increased intra-African trade. This, in turn, will eventually bring supply chains closer to home and infuse some degree of self-sufficiency into essential products like medicines, food, and fertilizers. He therefore pleaded with the member nations that have not yet ratified the agreement.
“We shouldn’t ignore the ten member states that have not yet ratified the agreement. I urge them to act quickly “He begged.
“Second, the AfCFTA agreement has been in effect for four years soon. Unfortunately, these four years also brought numerous shocks to Africa. Only by swiftly and successfully implementing the AfCFTA will Africa be able to create enough shock absorbers to increase resilience.”
The African Union’s (AU) official theme for the year, “The Year of AfCFTA: Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation,” served as the backdrop for the meeting that got underway on Wednesday (Feb. 15).
Additionally, the draft agenda for the 36th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, which is set to begin on Saturday, was anticipated to be discussed (Feb. 18).
