Addis Ababa 14th November 2018: The 20th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) opened today, 14th November 2018, at AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with calls highlighting the need for reform of the AU in order for the continental organization to achieve peace, development, and the Africa we want.

Addressing the Ministers in his opening remarks, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission, welcomed the Ministers to the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, and pointed out that the meeting is expected to lay the foundation for the success of the first Extraordinary Summit exclusively devoted to the issue of Institutional reforms of the Union.
“At the continental level, several initiatives are underway to speed up the economic integration efforts and the end of the multifaceted acts of violence that continue to ravage different regions of Africa. These developments demand that we enhance the efficiency of our Union,” said the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
The institutional reforms touch on all aspects of the functioning of the Union and all its organs. The outcomes of this meeting will have a lasting impact, as will be endorsed during the Assembly of Heads of States and Governments to be held on 17th and 18th, setting the path of continental renewal, said the Chairperson. (The complete speech of the AUC Chairperson is available on: www.au.int.)

H.E Dr. Richard Sezibera, Chairperson of the Executive Council in his opening remarks, stated that “Africa’s unity and Africa speaking in one voice has proven to be a positively disruptive force in the international scene. This should be the norm more than an exception, he added.
As the reforms take place there is need to recognize that self-financing of the Union in a sustainable manner will be a key determinant of our accomplishments said H.E Dr. Richard Sezibera. (The complete speech of the CP of the Executive Council on the AU Website: www.au.int.

The opening ceremony of the Executive Council, took place in the presence of the Foreign Affairs Ministers of AU Member States, AU Commissioners, Heads of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), AUC senior officials and other invited guests. The Extraordinary Session will prepare for the 11th AU Extraordinary Summit which will be held on 17-18 Nov 2018.

For two days, the AU Ministers of Foreign Affairs and External Relations will consider and deliberate on the draft agenda, decisions and declarations that came out of the meeting of the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) from 5th-6th November 2018, and the outcomes of the 6th Retreat of the Executive Council’ held on 12 and 13 September 2018 on AU Institutional Reform.

The meeting will consider proposals on the reform of the structure and portfolio of the senior leadership of the AU Commission, selection of the senior leadership of the Commission, administrative and financial reforms, and the mandate of the AU Development Agency (AUDA) in line with Assembly decision Assembly/AU/Dec.691(XXXI).

The Ministers will also consider division of labor between the AU, RECs, continental organizations and Member States, strengthening of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Financing of the Union, and AU Peace Fund.

Furthermore, the meeting will have a briefing on the Report of the Chairperson of the Executive Council to the Assembly on the Outcome of the 19th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council on the ACP Post 2020, and will prepare draft decisions, draft agenda and draft work program of the 11th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly, scheduled to take place 17 – 18 November 2018. 45 African leaders are expected to attend the 11th African Union (AU) extraordinary summit of heads of state.

For media inquiries, please contact the following addresses:

Ms. Afrah Thabit, Information Officer, Directorate of Information and Communication, AU Commission Tel: +251-911200922; E-mail: Thabitma@africa-union.org

For further information:
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Website: http://www.au.int
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