Addis Ababa: 07 November 2017: Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of the Kingdom of Norway visited the African Union Commission on 7 November, as part of an Official Visit from Norway to Ethiopia.

In recognition of the strategic partnership between Norway and the African Union, Their Royal Highnesses were received by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, for a courtesy call in his office. The leaders discussed the strategic partnership between Norway and the African Union, which was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2015. Norway and the AU collaborate on a number of issues under the three pillars of the partnership: i) peace and security; ii) democratisation and governance; and iii) sustainable development and job creation.

For his part, H.E. Moussa Faki commended Norway for its longstanding support high to priority sectors in Africa and looked forward to strengthening existing cooperation and private sector investment in emerging economic sectors such as the Blue Economy of which Norway is a global leader. The Chairperson pointed that Africa has more than 30 coastal and island Member States that could greatly benefit by harnessing opportunities presented by the Blue Economy.

Following the meeting, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon addressed the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) and invited guests from the diplomatic corps, International Organisations and civil society. In his address, the Crown Prince focused on the strong historic relations between Norway and the African continent, the strategic partnership between Norway and the AU, and issues of common global interest, such as human rights, gender equality, health, education and climate partnership, as well as private sector promotion and development.

For further information on the programme for the official visit of Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway to Ethiopia, please contact Bantayehu Gezahegn (Bantayehu.gezahegn@mfa.no).
Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou / Head of Information Division / E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org / Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia