Mr. Chairman of the Permanent Representatives Committee,

Madame Deputy Chairperson of the Commission,

Commissioners,

Ambassadors, Members of the Permanent Representatives Committee,

Representatives of Organs and Specialised Agencies of the African Union,

Heads of Liaison Office of the Regional Economic Communities to the African Union,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to accomplish the good ritual dedicated to the advent of the New Year, that of conveying to you my best wishes for this Year 2024 and wishing that it brings to you all, your respective families, as well as your countries and peoples, health, peace, stability and prosperity.

Mr. Chairman of the PRC,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The international environment continues to experience developments that increase uncertainty about the future of the world. While the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war are still vivid and growing, here is the Israel-Palestine conflict, which is unfolding with indescribable intensity, leading to humanitarian tragedies of an unprecedented magnitude, characterised by flagrant contempt of the International Law and International Humanitarian Law. The shelling of Palestinian civilians, the systematic destruction of their lives, their means of existence, the trivialisation of death, all these anomalies combine into a tragedy, which has lasted for a hundred days already. The African conscience is shaken up by this unprecedented tragedy.

I once again reiterate our call for a humanitarian ceasefire and urge the international community to give concrete form to the Two-State solution that it had unanimously decided.

Africa is also not exempt from conflict, like what is happening in The Sudan and the East of the DRC. These different conflicts and many other issues on a global scale enable us to take stock of the fragmentation of the world.

The only recourse that Africa has in the face of the challenges of our time is its unity and solidarity. A unity that we build with perseverance and tolerance, in a cooperative effort that transcends particularities, neutralises considerations contrary to the general interest and constantly draws inspiration from mutual understanding.

In this highly demanding and rigorous task, the PRC operates as the cornerstone that supports the structure of our Organisation. In fact, your role is similar to that of the builder who lays the foundations of the house. In your capacity as Representatives of the Member States, you give shape and content to the decisions, which consecrate the deliberations of the Policy Organs.

The Commission, for its part, has always made its contribution in a spirit of sharing and mutual support by following the logic of favouring the permanent search for consensus.

Mr. Chairman of the PRC,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

If I mentioned earlier the painful divisions on the international scene, it is to remind us that at the heart of these geopolitical storms, Africa, in addition to strengthening its unity, will have to draw conclusions for itself and chart out a way of managing its problems that integrates the challenges of the future.

This amounts to constantly reflecting on the scope of the decisions we take, by considering their prospective dimension to align them with the long term of Agenda 2063. What impact a decision taken, today, will have on the trajectory of the attainment of the general objective of our Union, namely peace, integration and development of the Continent?

Having this question as a backdrop in our mind is equivalent to strategic monitoring that enables us to stay on course with complete clarity.

I urge you to take such an approach into account when considering the various items on your Agenda. I have gone through this Agenda and realised its density and, in turn, the magnitude of the task that awaits you. By encouraging you to tackle this task with your usual dedication, I would like to take the liberty of sharing with you some of my observations.

While considering the various Reports which account for the activities carried out over the past year, you will certainly be pleased with what has been done well and which, as such, must be put to the credit of our Union for the year under consideration. You will also not fail to note the inadequacies, deficiencies, shortcomings attributable not only to a range of objective factors, but also to a natural disposition which makes it that all human work is not perfect.

It will then be a question of positively reframing these shortcomings by asking ourselves the lesson to be learnt from them, about the modalities of reformulating the objectives, about redetermining the means to be mobilised. This is how we can project ourselves into the future with more confidence and serenity after having learnt from our shortcomings.

Although all the items on your agenda are there because of their proven relevance, I wish to dwell on some of them to highlight the more or less long-term issues that they raise. These items relate, among other things, to the consideration of your own report relating to administrative, budgetary and financial matters, multilateral cooperation, humanitarian issues, the Reports of the Specialised Technical Committees, those of the Commission, the Organs in particular (the eternal crisis of the PanAfrican Parliament) and the Specialised Institutions, but also the preparation of the agendas of the Executive Council and the Assembly.

On the Institutional Reform of the Union, the election of members of the Commission is an integral part of this Institutional Reform, which has reached maturity. This has produced numerous positive results. You will take stock of this, without excessive self-satisfaction. You will identify the unfinished aspects and you will identify the best procedure to accomplish them after having closed it.

I would particularly like to stress the recurring crisis within the PanAfrican Parliament, which requires appropriate responses. It cannot last and be accepted. It is an important body in the Institutional Architecture of the Union. Missions and active reflection were carried out on the issue. Clear and courageous decisions must be taken, in accordance with the relevant law and sound practices. A political and technical adaptation of the texts must be carried out, without delay, in accordance with the relevant decisions of our competent authorities.

We are, therefore, urged to encourage indepth reflection on these issues.

Mr. Chairman of the PRC,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our theme for the Year 2024 is devoted to pondering over an indepth reform of Education in Africa, with the prospect of training young people endowed with intellectual, scientific and ethical capacities to serve the transformation of our Continent to make it a comfortable and productive living space.

Success in this area will have significant knock-on effects on sectors such as security, control of population growth, the empowerment of women and girls, agriculture, digitalization, migration, etc. Properly conducted and implemented in an orderly manner, Educational reform will reverse the trend towards poverty and enhance the attractiveness of Africa, in terms of investment and therefore, the creation of prosperity.

The Africa of tomorrow will be the one that we will build around this theme.

In this multifaceted work and the relevant decisions that you will not fail to take or propose to the Executive Council, you can, as always, count on the unreserved support of the Commission and on my personal wholehearted support and commitment.

While thanking you for your kind attention, I wish you fruitful deliberations.