4th – 5th June 2018: “Our people are counting on us to make sure that we deliver on Agenda 2063 so that they can enjoy the benefits of an integrated prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena”, Kenya’s principle secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Macharia Kamau said to the African Ambassadors representing thier countries in Ethiopia and the African Union at a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.

Ambassador Macharia, delivered his key note address at the opening session of the African Union the second executive sensitization and experience sharing seminar for the African Union Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC). In his conclusion he urged ambassadors to seize the moment which the continent was going through phenomenal changes by domesticating Agenda 2063 aspirations to unable us build the Africa we want.

At the 2018 executive sensitization and experience sharing seminar, the PRC members focused their discussions on understanding their roles and responsibilities in the popularization and implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) and the protocol of Free Movement of Person in Africa in order to effectively deliver on their mandate. The seminar was organized by African Union leadership Academy(AULA), department of trade and industry and the lastly the department of Political Affairs.

African leaders have taken a bold step towards building the Africa we want, so far 44 countries have signed the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA), 25 African member states have signed the Single Air African Transport Market (SAATM), and 23 countries have signed the protocol of Free Movement of Person in Africa.

Ambassador Hope Tumukunde Gasatura, the 2018 Chairperson of the African Union Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) in her address to the diplomatic corps said,
“This seminar helps to familiarize the PRC members on about the African Union instruments and create awareness on how member states can ratify, implement and domesticate the decision of the African union.”

The ambassador further stressed the instrumental role the PRC as the advises to their capitals which will shape the country policies in line with agenda 2063. “The seminar provides us an opportunity to address the gaps between the implementation and domestication to ensure no country is let behind as we embark on the task of building the Africa we want, she added in her conclusion.

“Leadership is important to harness Africa potential”, Dr Muna Abdalla, African Union Leadership Academy (AULA), In her address, explained that the executive seminar program seeks to enhance the understanding of the African Union system, its organs ns procedures, strengthen their skills relevant to its statutory meeting, negotiations and foster integration and engagement with the international community.

Following two days of informative prestation’s and fruitful discussions, the PRC members affirmed that the work of building the Africa we want is a shared responsibility and African should move together, no country will be left behind.

Note to Editor

Agenda 2063 is a strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of the continent for next 50 years. https://au.int/en/documents/20141012/key-documents-agenda2063

The Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) conducts the day-to-day business of the AU on behalf of the Assembly and Executive Council. It reports to the Executive Council, prepares the Council’s work and acts on its instructions (under article 21 of the Constitutive Act). All AU Member States are members of the PRC. The PRC Bureau consists of a chairperson, three vice-chairpersons and a rapporteur. www.au.africa

The African Union Leadership Academy(AULA) aims to be a high-level Pan African learning and development agency driving capacity building solutions of the challenges of managing the process of realization of the African Union Agenda 2063 initiatives.

Media Contact:

Faith Adhiambo / Communications Officer- Agenda 2063 / E-mail: ochiengj@africa-union.org

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

For further information: Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I Email: DIC@african-union.org I Website: www.au.africa I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia