Jordan – 29th March 2017:  At the 28th League of Arab States Summit H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the African Union Commission Chairperson, acknowledged the Africa-Arab collaboration as Africa’s oldest strategic partnership with the outside world and highlighted the need to cultivate the common experience between these two regions towards a promising future. The Chairperson was addressing the Heads of State and Governments from the Arab region, the UN Secretary General and the European Union who as also in attendance and other international guests.

The presence of the AU commission at the Arab States Summit, which took place in Jordan at the Dead Sea, was the first of such participation. AU’s presence at the Summit was marked by the Chairpersons’ address during which H.E. brought to attention the common challenges facing both Africa and the Arab world including the situation in Somalia, Libya, South Sudan regarding issues such as extremism, terrorism, famine, poverty and underdevelopment.

The Chairperson underscored that the common challenges within the two regions require more cooperation and brought attention to Agenda 2063 as a strategic issue for multilateral partnership. Agenda 2063 is Africa’s continental pursuit of integration, sustainable development, food security, human development, human rights, good governance, silencing guns and peace.

The AUC Chairperson noted that an Africa-Arab partnership despite its various historical, cultural and economic strengths has not lived up to its potential. However, H.E. insisted that the partnership would take up a prominent role going forward with strategic alliances such as the fifth Africa-Arab Partnership Summit that will be held in 2019 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Organized by the General Secretariat of League of Arab States in collaboration with the Jordanian government, the 28th League of Arab States Summit examines the political, economic, and social developments and challenges within the region.

Media Enquiry:

Ms. Afrah Thabit | Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission | E-mail: thabitma@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int - Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

For further information, please contact:

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission | E-mail: DIC@african-union.org  | Website: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

 
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