Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, September 19, 2019: In July 2019, at the 35th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, the Council adopted the Theme of “Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development” as the theme of the year 2020.

This decision was in recognition of the fact that conflict and instability are still serious challenges across the continent and their resultant impact adversely affects development, perpetuates poverty, reduces the incentives to invest and the capacities for economic growth and the overall achievement of the objectives of Agenda 2063. The Council underscored the nexus between good governance, peace, stability and development and that these concepts are thoroughly intertwined and may not be considered exclusive of each other.

The 2020 edition of the African Union’s magazine, the AU ECHO, will focus on this theme. In this regard, a Call for Papers for the AU ECHO 2020 has been published. The scope of the 2020 edition calls for evidence based articles on the progress that has been achieved as well as innovative initiatives that are being undertaken at institutional, country and continental levels, with regard to promoting the implementation and operationalization of the African Union’s strong legal and policy frameworks governing the silencing of the guns by 2020, as a means of creating conducive conditions for Africa’s development.

Contributions are being sought from all AU organs, Regional Economic Communities, Member States, academia, think tanks, civil society organisations, women’s organisations, youth organisations and the wider public.

The Call can be accessed on the link below:
 https://au.int/en/announcements/20190919/call-papers-au-echo-2020-edition

The manuscript submission deadline is: 20 October 2019

For more information please contact:
1. Mrs. Wynne Musabayana| Head, Communication Division| Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | E-mail: Musabayanaw@africa-union.org

2. Mr. Gamal Ahmed A. Karrar | Communications Officer, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | E- mail: GamalK@africa-union.org