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The 31st summit of the African Union (AU) ended on Monday (July 2nd) in Nouakchott. Here are the main decisions that were made.
- An Extraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) in November to Advance (Finally) on Reforms
Moussa Faki Mahamat and Paul Kagame's proposals for accelerating AU reform were bold. However, they did not allow decisive progress at the Nouakchott summit. Among the most disputed proposals is the famous 0.2% tax on imports that states are invited to raise to finance the AU. It still faces reluctance, particularly from South Africa. But also the proposal around the method of appointment of commissioners, now elected by the heads of state, and who could in the future be appointed by the president of the Commission.
Heads of State have therefore agreed to meet again on 17 and 18 November in Addis Ababa for an extraordinary summit to endorse these reforms.
Progress is however to be noted for the integration of the continent: five new countries have signed in Nouakchott the agreement for the Continental Free Trade Area (Zlec): Burundi, Lesotho, Namibia, Sierra Leone and South Africa. They are in addition to the 44 states that had already done so. In total, six countries have already ratified the agreement. Sixteen more are needed by December for the text to come into force
- Compromise on Western Sahara
Moussa Faki Mahamat's report on Western Sahara did not lead to a tussle feared between heads of state. They found a compromise to allow the AU to play a role in this issue, without replacing the UN. The AU Troika (President-in-Office, his predecessor and successor) and the President of the Commission should be involved in facilitating the work of the UN Secretary-General.
The President of the Commission is elsewhere to reactivate the AU Office at the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso) in Laayoune
- Louise Mushikiwabo supported by the AU to take the lead Francophonie
AU Heads of State endorsed the institution's support for the candidacy of the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, as Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) ). Even Hage Geingob, president of Namibia, a non-member country of the French-speaking world, took it over at the closing ceremony of the summit
- Carlos Lopes to help Africans in negotiations with the European Union [19659003] African Heads of State Make Bissau-Guinean Carlos Lopes, Former Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Their High Representative to Support Member States in Negotiating a New Post-2020 Agreement with Africa 'European Union. This is to replace the Cotonou Agreements.
- Mahamadou Issoufou holds his summit for July 2019
As part of the AU reform, the traditional July summit, which was the subject of a rotation between countries, has been deleted. There will always be an AU meeting at this time, but it should bring together the foreign ministers of the member countries, the finance ministers, and a smaller number of heads of state. This is what, in principle, should take place in Niamey in July 2019.
Only problem: Niger has already begun preparations for a summit of heads of state and Mahamadou Issoufou holds. "Although the new formula for the summit comes into force in 2019, the Niamey summit will not be totally different," he told reporters at the summit. It is on this occasion that we will celebrate the entry into force of the Continental Free Trade Area. So all heads of state will be invited to participate. "
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