PRC Remarks last session of PRC
21st January 2020

Excellency Moussa Faki Mohamed, Chairperson of the African Union Commission,
Distinguished Commissioners,
My dear sisters and brothers,
Excellences Ambassadors and colleagues,

1. While writing these introductory remarks to the last formal convening of the PRC under the Egyptian Chairmanship, I had so many thoughts that took me back through all the occasions, events, meetings and discussions we have had together in this room throughout the previous year since the first PRC meeting I had the honor to chair on the 20th of February 2019, exactly 11 months ago. The one conclusion I came up with was “We have made it all the way to this point only with your support”! So, first and foremost I want to say thank you.

2. During this first meeting in January 2019, I laid down what I wished to be the principles that will guide our work in addition to the objectives to be achieved at the end of the year. These principles included among others continuous constructive dialogue, predictable and transparent modus operandi, in addition to observing a satisfactory level of discipline and compliance.

3. Our objectives on the other side, revolved around achieving the agreed upon priorities and targets outlined at our African agenda, with the aim of serving our continent in a way that it deserves and positively impacting the livelihoods and prosperity of our citizens.

4. After 11 months, 50 meetings and 200 work hours, allow me to take you through a quick snap shot of what we accomplished together through the Egyptian year of Chairmanship to the African Union and its Permanent Representatives Committee, by dividing it into Three main domains

First: Improving the internal work methods with the Commission:
5. We managed collectively to reinstate some positive practices in addition to crafting new ones that altogether contributed positively to the level of efficiency at our commission and this included:
a) Ensuring the legal review of the decisions of the Policy Organs by the Office of the Legal Counsel and the Bureau of the Assembly with the aim of ensuring that they do not violate previous decisions or the existence of legal shortcomings, a practice that we hope continues.
b) Re-instating the Drafting Committee to ensure the accurate compatibility between the content of the decisions with the relevant deliberations.
c) Enhancing the level of compliance with the submission deadlines of documents by the respective departments, and improving the cycle of coordination between the departments and the preparations for the meetings. This point particularly needs specific emphasis from incoming Chairs, as it is a continuous effort.
d) Finally, reviving the coordination between the African Peace and Security Council and the Permanent Representatives committee by inviting the Chairpersons of the month of the PSC to provide periodic briefings regarding their activities in addition to continuous follow up with the Chairpersons of the PRC Subcommittees and engagement regarding their calendars of meetings and work progress.

Second: Pursuing the main objectives, priorities, and projects of our African Agenda:
6. In our meetings, including those of the PRC subcommittees and throughout our discussions we have laid down the preparatory work for key milestones and achievements under the year of the Egyptian Chairmanship to the AU, which includes:
A) The historic entry into force of the continental free trade area and the launch of its operational tools was the highlight of an extraordinary summit in Niamey /Niger on the 7th of July 2019, in addition to the efforts to set up the AfCFTA secretariat in Accra/Ghana
B) The convening of the first edition of the mid-year coordination meeting between the regional economic communities [RECs] and the AU on 8 July 2019 in Niamey which is another milestone on the road to continental integration and the work that followed that to finalize and refine the foundational documents, including the division of labor matrix, the draft rules of procedures of this meeting, and the revised protocol on relations between the AU and RECs to be adopted at the upcoming February 2020 summit.
C) Within the infrastructure domain, a thorough discussion has taken place regarding the criteria for selecting the list of projects that will be implemented within the framework of the second phase of the AU Infrastructure Programme PIDA (2021–2030). This programme that carries the ambition of Africans towards solid and viable continental integration and connectivity.
D) In the area of peace and security, we collectively contributed to supporting the work of the AU regarding the peace process in various locations on our continent including the CAR [Central African Republic], South Sudan, Sudan and other African hotspots as concrete implementation of our commitment to finding ‘African solutions to African problems’. Egypt particularly sensed that the post-conflict reconstruction and development has not been given the required attention, despite its critical importance in preventing relapse into conflict. With this in mind, the proposed structure of the AU Center for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development hosted in Cairo has been finalized and the host agreement has been signed, paving the way for its activities to start and offering a remarkable added value to conflict prevention in Africa.
E) As for the reform Process, we collectively collaborated in implementing the reform agenda stemming from a genuine belief in the necessity of the reforms and the possibility of upgrading the capabilities of our union to better serve Africa’s goals and ambitions. Tireless efforts were exerted by the PRC subcommittee on structures and the PRC subcommittee on General Supervision, in coordination with the reform unit, to come up with a refined proposal for the new departmental structure of the AU Commission, to be adopted by the upcoming summit. This proposal has been finalized and reviewed by the PRC in a series of sessions to ensure that the new structure reflects the essence of the reform and the objective of a lean and results-oriented structure. To complement this effort, a new recruitment system is currently being elaborated.
F) We should also not forget the issue relating to the Peace Fund and the ongoing efforts to finalize the consultations regarding the new scale of assessment, the way to manage the fund and how to ensure its sustainability.
Third: Partnership Meetings and Engagement with diplomatic and international community:
7. We managed to lead a comprehensive and intact preparatory process for our partnership meeting with the Japanese side, which allowed us to represent our continent in a respectful and elegant and manner. This practice has been replicated in all preparatory partnership meetings including the African Union- League of Arab sates meeting and the Africa- India Meeting.
8. We ensured active and constructive engagement with external actors by revamping dialogue with the AU Partners Group as well as frequent featuring of senior officials from the UN and other key stakeholders.

9. I can’t end my remarks without expressing my gratitude to each and every member of the commission who has contributed to the success of the Egyptian Chairmanship to the AU, starting by:
- The Chairperson of the Commission and his Bureau whose doors were always opened for interaction, cooperation and support,
- The Deputy Chairperson whose presence with us at the PRC has always enriched the discussions,
- All the Commissioners and their directors who have the ably led their departments and spared no effort in supporting the Chair,
- In addition to the SG my brother Mourad and his team, who has always been working to properly keep our work in order,
- And all staff members of the departments and directorates particularly those of the DCMP, interpreters, Office of the Legal Counsel, the Protocol and the Security.
- It has been a very challenging yet an outstandingly rewarding task for a year. A task that I couldn’t have accomplished without the support shown by all the membership of this august body, PRs to the African Union whether within the PRC sessions or through chairing our vibrant PRC subcommittees has contributed effectively to my stewardship to the PRC.
- Allow me to thank you all, and express my appreciation to all the victims, the PRs that have been in my place since 2003:
NO. NAME OF AMBASSADOR COUNTRY YEAR
1. His.E Kingsley Mamabolo South Africa 2002
2. Her E Ana Nemba Uaiene Mozambique 2003
3. His E. Olusegun Akinsanya Nigeria 2004
4. His E. Olusegun Akinsanya Nigeria 2005
5. His E Raymond Serge Bale Congo 2006
6. His E John Evonlah Aggrey Ghana 2007
7. His E. Mohammed Maundi Tanzania 2008
8. His E. Ali Awidan Libya 2009
9. His E. Mbuya Isaac G. Munlo Malawi 2010
10. His E. Ruben Maye Nsue Mangue Equatorial Guinea 2011
11. His E. Ferdinand Montcho Benin 2012
12. Her.E. Kongit Sinegiorgis Ethiopia 2013
13. His E Hamadi MEIMOU Mauritania 2014
14. His E. Albert Chimbindi Zimbabwe 2015
15. His E Cherif Mahamat Zene Chad 2016
16. Her .E. Fatoumata Kaba Sidibé Guinea 2017
17. Her .E. Hope TUMUKUNDE GASATURA Rwanda 2018

- And as I end, allow me to welcome to the hot seat the new expected victim in the house., Ambassador Makaya, whom I will happily and willingly make sure he enjoys an orderly and smooth transition.
I thank you.
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