AU assembly concludes with remarkable decisions

PIC: Delegates attend the closing ceremony of the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, in Addis Ababa on Monday. (Credit: AFP)

POLITICS | AFRICAN UNION

ADDIS ABABA - The 30th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly has concluded with remarkable decisions on three flagship projects of Agenda 2063.

Held under the theme: ‘Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa's Transformation at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the adoption of key decisions by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

Among the decisions taken include: the realisation of a Single African Air Transport Market.

This is vital to the achievement of the long-term vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa under the AU Agenda 2063, a statement from African Union stated.

"It will bring about the enhanced connectivity across the continent leading to sustainable development of the aviation and tourism industry with immense contribution to economic growth, job creation, prosperity and integration of Africa," the statement added.

Twenty-three member States have declared their solemn commitment to the immediate implementation towards establishment of a Single African Air Transport.

On the African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), the Assembly is set to hold an extraordinary summit on March 21, 2018, preceded by an extraordinary session of the executive council on March 19, 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda, to consider the CFTA legal instruments and sign the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The Assembly also adopted a protocol to the treaty establishing the African Economic Community relating to free movement of persons, rights of residence and right of establishment and its draft implementation roadmap.

On Financing the Union, the Assembly decided that the membership of the committee of ministers of finance should be expanded from ten (10) to fifteen (15) members based on the principles of equitable geographical distribution and rotation.

On the Report of the Leader of the African Union High-Level Committee on Libya, the Assembly expressed concern over the persistent political impasse and the security situation in Libya, which perpetuates the suffering of the Libyan people, undermines the legal institutions of the country.

This poses a challenge to security and stability in neighbouring countries and in the entire region, the Assembly noted.

The Assembly requested the African Union Commission to re-launch the efforts of the contact group on Libya, in close cooperation with the United Nations, in order to pool the efforts of the international community on the issue and support the efforts of the African Union High-Level Committee on Libya.

On the report of the Peace and Security Council on its activities and the State of Peace and Security in Africa, the Assembly welcomed the signing, on December 21, 2017, by the South Sudanese stakeholders of an agreement of cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and humanitarian access.

On the Implementation of the Assembly decision on the institutional reform of the African Union, the Assembly reiterated the commitment to the reform and renewal of the Union as part of the effort to ensure delivery of Agenda 2063 as an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in international arena.

On the African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) Initiative, the Assembly reaffirmed commitment to end hunger by 2025 through strengthening development policies as an effective investment in the human capital among member states.