• Your Excellency, Right Honorable Robinah Nabbanja, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda, Chair of the Outgoing Bureau,
• Your Excellency Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the Economic and Social Council,
• Your Excellency Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa,
• Excellencies Ministers, Distinguished Delegates, Private sector, Civil Society, Ladies and Gentlemen,
• All protocols,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, who could not be present with us today. He has entrusted me to represent him at this important gathering and to wish you successful deliberations.

At the outset, allow me to express our sincere appreciation to the Government and people of Ethiopia for hosting us here in Addis Ababa, the diplomatic capital of Africa. I also wish to commend the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and all co-organizers for convening this Twelfth Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development.

I also wish to express our sincere appreciation to the Right Honourable Prime Minister and Chair of the Outgoing Bureau Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, for exemplary leadership. We thank the Government of Uganda for hosting the 11^th Session in Kampala and commend it for championing the outcomes of the Kampala Forum at key global platforms, including the High-Level Political Forum, the World Summit for Social Development, and the United Nations Climate Change Conference to list few, as well as championing the translation of these commitments into national priorities.

This year’s theme, “Turning the Tide: Transformative and Coordinated Actions for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063,” could not be more timely.

As we enter the final stretch toward 2030, it is clear that progress across many of our countries is not advancing at the pace or scale required. This Forum, therefore, represents not only a platform for reflection but a decisive moment for collective action.

Excellencies, the focus of this Forum on five critical Sustainable Development Goals: clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, industry, innovation and infrastructure, sustainable cities and communities, and partnerships for the Goals, is both strategic and timely. These goals are foundational enablers of sustainable development and are closely aligned with the aspirations and flagship priorities of Agenda 2063.

Africa has demonstrated unwavering commitment to sustainable development through the implementation of both the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. These two frameworks are not parallel. They are mutually reinforcing blueprints for inclusive growth, resilience, and long-term transformation on our continent.

I am pleased to inform this distinguished Forum that the African Union has made significant progress in domesticating the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063 across Member States. Countries are increasingly aligning national development plans, policies, and budgets with continental priorities, thereby strengthening ownership, coherence, and accountability.

Furthermore, the African Union Commission is currently finalizing the Biennial Report on the Implementation of the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan, which will be presented at the AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in June, this year.

While the report is yet to be officially launched, preliminary findings point to several important trends. Notable progress has been recorded in areas such as infrastructure development, regional integration, and digital transformation, particularly under flagship initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area. Improvements in governance and institutional frameworks are also evident in several Member States, reflecting a growing commitment to transparency and accountability.

However, significant challenges remain, particularly in financing sustainable development, creating jobs for Africa’s growing youth population, strengthening climate resilience, and addressing persistent inequalities within and between countries.

These findings underscore the urgent need for accelerated, coordinated, and transformative action, as rightly emphasized by the theme of this Forum.

Excellencies, allow me to emphasize that equal and respectful partnership remains central to our collective success. In this regard, I wish to recall the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2018 between the African Union and the United Nations, which provides a strong institutional framework for joint implementation of development priorities across the continent. This framework has strengthened alignment, reduced fragmentation, and enhanced support to Member States in delivering on shared objectives.

It is within this context that my sister the Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina      J. Mohamed and myself are joining efforts as co-chairs of the AU-UN High Level Dialogue on Sustainable Development in advancing the principle of “Two Agendas, One Implementation Framework” ensuring that Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda are pursued in a coherent, coordinated, and mutually reinforcing manner.

As we move forward, this collaboration must be further deepened, particularly in mobilizing financing, strengthening institutional capacity, and scaling up innovative solutions that respond to Africa’s unique development context.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, this Forum comes at a critical juncture. With less than five years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we must move beyond incremental progress toward accelerated transformational change.

This requires:

• stronger policy coherence across continental, regional, and national frameworks

• increased investment in critical sectors such as water, energy, infrastructure, and sustainable cities
• enhanced partnerships across governments, the private sector, civil society, and development partners
• and above all, sustained political will to drive implementation

The outcomes of this Forum will play a critical role in shaping Africa’s unified voice at upcoming global platforms, including the High-Level Political Forum, or COP32 or the Water Conference. We must therefore ensure that our deliberations translate into concrete, actionable outcomes that deliver measurable impact for our people based on the shared strategic vision.

In conclusion, the African Union Commission reaffirms its full commitment to working with all partners to accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda. Together, we can turn the tide. And together, we can build a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable Africa.

I thank you. Asante sana. Merci beaucoup. Shukran.