Africa Union Summit: institutional reforms, Free Trade Area discussed
The 31st African Union Summit has ended in Nouakchott, Mauritania. A number of resolutions were adopted by the twenty two Heads of States, four Prime Ministers and two foreign Ministers present at the conference centre in Nouakchott.
The resolutions include that on West Sahara, fight against terrorism and violent extremism as well as the organisation’s institutional reforms and membership of other countries in the African Continental Free Trade Area CFTA agreement.
They 31st ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union adopted the report on the African Mechanism which would allow the African Union to provide efficient support to the UN led process based on the United Nation Security Council resolution on the situation in Western Sahara.
Peace and security in Africa
The AU Peace and Security Council called on international actors to resume their efforts to implement a UN plan to secure stability, territorial integrity and security in Libya.
They also invited stakeholders to fulfil their obligations regarding the Humanitarian situation in South Sudan and Libya
The appeals were made in line with the theme of the summit, “Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation” which is also the 2018 theme of the year
The activities of the federal government in Somalia during the transition period received AU support. The African Union tasked the UN to finance the AU mission to Somalia.
Continental free Trade Agreement
The Continental Free Trade Area Agreement featured prominently during the 31st Ordinary session of the African Union. Current African Union, Chairman, Rwandan President Paul Kagame said five more countries signed the Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.
He called for the speeding up of the institutional reforms through wide implementation of the Continental free trade Area
Institutional Reforms
African, leaders regretted the fact that the continent is regarded as a continent torn by conflicts, crisis, terrorism, illegal immigration and organised crime while development indexes are constantly progressing.
The African leaders at the summit took the challenge to preserve African’s interest and dignity through reforms which are part of the application of Agenda 2063.
Elvis Teke