The meeting of the African Union 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting bringing together Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Mechanism (RMs) and member states kicked off on the 13^th of July 2023 with the Ministerial Meeting of the Executive Council.

The meeting of the Executive Council is taking stock of the progress made in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is the AU theme of the year 2023. The Council will consider budget matters; African candidatures within the international system; the progress of ratification and implementation of OAU/AU treaties; updates on the AU institutional reforms and Agenda 2063 as well as the AU theme of the year for 2024 on education, among others.

H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, in a statement read on his behalf by his Deputy, Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa highlighted that the African Union theme for 2024 on education seeks to move from the old paradigm based on the acquisition of theoretical knowledge often unrelated to Africa’s realities, to a new knowledge based on a logic of action in the face of existential problems. The Chairperson also lauded the satisfactory progress of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, evidenced by among others, the successful conclusion of negotiations on rules of origin, the strengthening of infrastructure through the corridor approach, and the involvement of the private sector. He also noted the progress of the AU institutional reforms which is in its final phases, pending the completion of the revision of the mandates and structures of AU bodies and institutions, and the division of labour between the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities, Regional Mechanisms and the member states.

H.E. Dhoihir Dhoulkamal, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Comoros and the Chairperson of the African Union’s Executive Council for 2023, noted that the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to Free Movement of Persons is a catalyst to stimulate the potential of the AfCFTA to benefit millions of Africans. He also underscored the importance of domestic resource mobilization efforts by the Union, to ensure the continent is financially self-reliant to bridge the fund-gap that slows the implementation of Agenda 2063. He noted the progress made in enhancing the budgeting processes and the financial governance by the African Union. He, at the same time, underscored the urgency to sustainably address the security deficits such as those experienced in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo; and the transition processes in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.

H.E. Dr. Alfred Mutua, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs in the Republic of Kenya, announced Kenya’s plan to progressively abolish visa restrictions for African citizens, to facilitate trade and integration and the realization of Agenda 2063. He at the same time rallied member states to implement the AU reforms on domestic resource mobilization towards predictable and reliable self-financing mechanisms, highlighting the challenges of over-reliance on external funding.

Mr. Antonio Pedro, the Acting Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa stated that industrialization would accelerate Africa’s structural transformation with a potential to contribute an increased share of tradable goods in total exports, more productive and decent jobs, value addition, larger volumes of intra-African trade, greater product complementarity between African economies and the emergence of strong and well-linked regional value chains to break Africa’s dependence on the export of raw materials. He emphasized that industrialization backed with actionable trade policies would attract private sector investments for sustainable development. Further, he observed that investments in carbon market offers an opportunity for the continent to generate over 50 billion dollars in revenues annually, to finance Africa’s climate needs, create job opportunities and contribute to environmental, social and economic sustainability while promoting clean energy.

During the two-day meeting, the Executive Council will appoint some members of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR); the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC); the African Union Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC); African Union Commission on International Law (AUCIL), and a member of the Board of External Auditors (BoEAs).

The Executive Council meeting will be followed by the Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) of the African Union Bureau of Assembly, Chairpersons of the Regional Economic Communities, Regional Mechanisms and AU member states on the 16^th July 2023. The MYCM will assess the status of continental integration and coordinate efforts to accelerate the integration process through the implementation of a clear division of labour and collaboration between the Union, RECs, RMs and Member States, in line with the principle of subsidiarity, complementarity and comparative advantage.

Watch the opening session here. Download images of the session here.

For further information please contact:

Mrs. Wynne Musabayana| Head of Communication| Information and Communication Directorate| African Union Commission | E-mail:MusabayanaW@africa-union.org |Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Molalet Tsedeke| Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail:Molalett@africa-union.org| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.