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Following the conclusion of the 31st AU Summit held in Nouakchott, Mauritania, from 25 June to 2 July 2018, the main activities, decisions and declarations of the Summit are presented below. below.
1. AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA (FTA)
• 49 of the 55 African Union (AU) member states have now signed the agreement establishing the FTAA. While six countries 6 have ratified the agreement
• During the Summit, South Africa, Namibia, Burundi, Lesotho and Sierra Leone signed an agreement covering 49 countries [19659004] • Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) Chad deposited its instruments of ratification, bringing to 6 the number of States that have ratified the FTA and 6. Other countries that have ratified the FTA are Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda and Niger.
• The Assembly of Heads of State and Government (hereinafter referred to as the Assembly) adopted the five (5) priority sectors of services – Transport, Communication, Finance, Tourism and Business Services.
• The Heads of State and Government, have urged member states that have not yet signed and ratified the agreement, and urge all member states to continue to work together. refrain from concluding bilateral trade agreements until the entry into force of the Agreement Establishing the FTA and the Agreement.
2. INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS OF THE AFRICAN UNION
• The Assembly called for the finalization of the proposals and recommendations based on the initial conclusions, on the following organs: the Pan-African Parliament, the Peace and Security Council, the African Court on Human Rights and Peoples African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, African Peer Review Mechanism and Advisory Council on Corruption.
• For organizational efficiency and effectiveness, the Assembly called for the implementation of the roadmap. African Union, Regional Economic Communities, Member States and Continental Organizations.
3. Establishment of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA) as the technical body of the AU and asks the Commission to develop a status for AUDA and submit it to for adoption at the January 2019 Summit.
• The New Partnership for Africa's Development Agency (NEPAD) is responsible for implementing the 2063 Agenda of the African Union. various development programs and initiatives in African countries. The transition from NEPAD to AUDA will be undertaken as part of the creation of the latter
4. PEACE AND SECURITY IN AFRICA
• South Sudan: The Assembly reaffirmed its support for the imposition of punitive measures against those who impede efforts to achieve reconciliation and peace. to peace in the country. The Assembly congratulated the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for its efforts to revitalize the process of implementation of the Agreement on Conflict Resolution in the Republic of South Sudan (ARCSS) ) and welcomed the talks between South Sudanese President Dr. Riek Machar; as well as the Khartoum Declaration Agreement of June 27, 2018. He urged the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to honor the commitments set out in the 2012 Cooperation Agreement.
• Ethiopia and Eritrea: The Assembly welcomed the commitments and progress made. the implementation of the Algiers Agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea and reaffirmed its commitment to support the two countries in their efforts to normalize relations
• Somalia: L & E Assembly commended Somalia's transition plan as a solid foundation for lasting peace.
• Libya: The Assembly expressed deep concern over the continuing security situation in Libya, which continues to prolong the suffering of the Libyan people. While noting the progress made in various worrisome situations on the continent, the Assembly also described the steps to be taken to resolve the crises and assigned the responsibilities to the various stakeholders involved in the processes.
• The Assembly welcomed the progress made in Bissau and Mali and in the fight against the terrorist group Boko Haram.
• The Assembly also approved the decision of the Peace and Security Council to designate each year April 7 commemoration day of the African Union. Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda
• Flagship Project of Agenda 2063 Silencing Weapons by 2020
o Months of Amnesty in Africa September 2018: Member States Urged to plan activities to mark the mobilization of citizens to voluntarily abandon weapons belonging to illegal interests.
o Zambia and Zimbabwe congratulated for being the first countries to submit written reports on efforts to implement the AU's main roadmap on practical measures to silence arms in Africa by 2020, and called on other member states to emulate these examples.
BUDGET OF THE AFRICAN UNION
• A budget of $ 681,485,337 has been approved for the AU for the 2019 financial year. The budget will cover three components: operational, program operations and support for peace.
• The Assembly commended the AU for its 12% budget reduction compared to the 2018 budget which indicates an indication to comply with ongoing institutional reforms of the AU that require efficiency in resource management
6. APPOINTMENTS
The Assembly has made the following appointments:
• African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights: three judges for a term of six years; 1 judge of the same court for a term of two years, being the remainder of the term of another judge • African Commission of International Law: 5 members for five-year terms
• African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child: 4 members for five years
• Pan-African Council of the University: 1 vice-president for a term of three years
• Council of External Auditors of the AU: 5 heads of supreme audit institutions of each region of the AU room
7. AFRICAN CANDIDATURES
• The Assembly urged all member states to support the candidacy of Hon. Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwandan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Community of Africa. Is the Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie. . THEME OF THE YEAR 2018
• In line with the 2018 theme "Winning the fight against corruption: a sustainable path for the transformation of Africa", the Assembly encouraged member states to fight against illicit financial flows, to strengthen their national anti-corruption agencies. in the demographic dividend among other measures.
• The Assembly is committed to adopting measures to ensure that public figures declare their assets and to gradually abolish the jurisdictions of banking secrecy and tax havens.
9. THEME OF 2019
• 2019 has been designated as the Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa: Towards Sustainable Solutions to Forced Displacement.
Visit https://au.int/en/decisions/assembly see all decisions taken by the Assembly
For more information:
Wynne Musabayana | Head of Communication | Commission of the African Union I E-mail: [email protected]
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