External partnerships between the AU and organisations, regions or countries

The following list covers formal external partnerships between the AU and organisations, regions or countries.

Africa–League of Arab States (LAS)

Formal relations between Africa and the Arab World were launched at the first Africa–Arab Summit, held in Cairo, Egypt, in March 1977. Cooperation was further consolidated at the second Africa–Arab Summit, held in Sirte, Libya, in October 2010. The Libya Summit adopted the Africa–Arab Partnership Strategy and the Joint Africa–Arab Action Plan 2011–16. It also adopted a declaration summarising common positions on major regional and international issues. The partnership strategy outlines four main areas of cooperation: political; economic, trade and financial; agriculture and food security; and socio-cultural. The Joint Action Plan translates the strategy into concrete programmes. The strategy also elaborates implementation follow-up mechanisms, which include the Africa–Arab Summit, Joint Africa–Arab Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Coordination Committee on Africa–Arab Partnership at ministerial and senior officials’ levels.

The Joint Africa–Arab Heads of State and Government Summit is held every three years, with ministerial level meetings every 18 months. The Coordination Committee meets annually at ministerial level and every six months at senior officials’ level. Four Africa–Arab Summits have been held, with the most recent one from 17 to 23 November 2016, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The fifth Summit is scheduled to be held in 2019, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

African Union (AU) – European Union (EU) Partnership

The AU–EU Partnership, in its current form, was launched with the first Africa–EU Summit in April 2000, held in Cairo, Egypt. Five summits have been held, most recently in November 2017 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The Partnership’s stated vision is to: reinforce political relations; strengthen and promote issues of common concern; promote effective multilateralism; and promote people-centred partnerships. Activities are based on the Joint Africa–Europe Strategy, which was adopted by Heads of State and Government at the 2007 Summit, in Lisbon, Portugal; the Joint Road Map 2014–17, which was adopted at the 2014 Summit; and a declaration adopted at the November 2017 Summit. Partnership mechanisms exist at several levels including Heads of State summits, ministerial meetings, Commission-to-Commission meetings, and other forums for civil society, the private sector and parliamentarians. The next Summit is expected to be held in 2020.

In 2019, the AU was working towards negotiating a new partnership agreement with the EU post-Cotonou 2020 (see Assembly/AU/Dec.715 (XXXII)). Cotonou is an agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states that was signed in Cotonou, Benin, in 2000 for a 20-year period. (See Assembly/AU/Dec.694(XXXI) of July 2018.)

Africa–South America Cooperation Forum (ASACOF)

The first ASACOF Summit was held in November 2006 in Abuja, Nigeria. As of September 2019, three summits had been held, most recently in February 2013 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The fourth Summit was scheduled to be held in Quito, Ecuador, in May 2016, but did not take place because of unforeseen circumstances. Both regions were working together on convening the next Summit. The Forum’s mandate is to facilitate the development of trade and industry for both regions, including through sharing best practices in priority thematic areas. The Summit is also a forum for dialogue on peace and security, democracy, governance and social justice. The ASA Forum’s core structures include a coordination group, ad hoc committee, senior and high officials, ministerial meetings and the Assembly.

African Union Commission–United States of America High-Level Dialogue

The AUC and United States Department of State signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2013 that formalised cooperation on issues including peace and security, democracy and governance, economic growth, trade and investment, and promotion of opportunity and development. As of September 2019, six annual High-Level Dialogues have been held, most recently in November 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The annual dialogues discuss and agree on the implementation of flagship projects. In addition, the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a trade programme allowing eligible African countries to export certain goods duty-free to the USA. In June 2015, the USA approved a 10-year extension of the AGOA.

China–Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC)

The China–Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC) is a platform for consultation and dialogue between China and African states. It was inaugurated in October 2000 in Beijing, China. The AUC is a full member of the FOCAC process. The Forum is mandated to strengthen consultation, expand cooperation and promote political dialogue and economic cooperation between Africa and China. Since 2015, FOCAC conferences have been held every three years, alternating between China and an African country. As of September 2019, FOCAC has held three Summits at Heads of State and Government level. The third FOCAC Summit was held in September 2018, in Beijing, China. The fourth Summit is scheduled to be held in Senegal, in 2021.

Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD)

TICAD was formalised in 1993 on the initiative of the Government of Japan, with the objective of promoting high-level political dialogue and mobilising support for African development initiatives. TICAD has met at Heads of State and Government level every five years, in Japan, from 1993 to 2013, and in June 2013 agreed to meet every three years, alternating between Africa and Japan. TICAD VI was held in August 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya, the first time the TICAD Summit was held in Africa. The TICAD 7 Summit was held in Yokohama, Japan, in August 2019. The AUC became a full partner of the TICAD process in 2010. TICAD is overseen by a follow-up mechanism, which comprises a three-tier structure of a joint secretariat, joint monitoring committee and follow-up meetings. Each TICAD Summit approves a declaration and an action plan. The TICAD process involves five stakeholders, called co-organisers: the Government of Japan, AUC, UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (UNOSAA), UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank. Formal relations between Africa and the Arab World were launched at the first Africa–Arab Summit, held in Cairo, Egypt, in March 1977. Cooperation was further consolidated at the second Africa–Arab Summit, held in Sirte, Libya, in October 2010. The Libya Summit adopted the Africa–Arab Partnership Strategy and the Joint Africa–Arab Action Plan 2011–16. It also adopted a declaration summarising common positions on major regional and international issues. The partnership strategy outlines four main areas of cooperation: political; economic, trade and financial; agriculture and food security; and socio-cultural. The Joint Action Plan translates the strategy into concrete programmes. The strategy also elaborates implementation follow-up mechanisms, which include the Africa–Arab Summit, Joint Africa–Arab Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Coordination Committee on Africa–Arab Partnership at ministerial and senior officials’ levels. The Joint Africa–Arab Heads of State and Government Summit is held every three years, with ministerial level meetings every 18 months. The Coordination Committee meets annually at ministerial level and every six months at senior officials’ level. Four Africa–Arab Summits have been held, with the most recent one from 17 to 23 November 2016, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The fifth Summit is scheduled to be held in 2019, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Africa–India Partnership

The Africa–India Cooperation Agreement was launched by a Leaders’ Summit in April 2008 in New Delhi, India. The Summit adopted two documents: the Delhi Declaration and an Africa–India Framework for Cooperation. The second Summit was held on 25 May 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and a third in October 2015 in New Delhi, India. The first four-year Africa–India Plan of Action (2010–13) was launched in New Delhi in March 2010. The Plan of Action of the Enhanced Framework for the Cooperation, borne out of the second Africa–India Forum (AIFS II), was adopted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the second Africa–India Summit and signed in New Delhi, India, on 4 September 2013. The third Africa–India Forum adopted two documents, the Delhi Declaration and the Third Africa–India Framework for Cooperation, which cover cooperation in the areas of economic matters, trade and industry, agriculture, energy, blue ocean economy, infrastructure, education and skill development, health and peace and security. The third Summit also adopted the Framework for Strategic Partnership. The fourth Summit is expected to be held in 2020.

Africa–Turkey Partnership

The Africa–Turkey Partnership was formalised in April 2008 at the Istanbul Summit. The 2008 Summit adopted two outcome documents, the Istanbul Declaration and the Framework for Cooperation, which set out the areas of cooperation between the two parties. The Framework focuses on: inter-governmental cooperation; trade and investment; agriculture, agribusiness, rural development, water resources management and small- and medium-scale enterprises; health; peace and security; infrastructure, energy and transport; culture, tourism and education; media, information communications technology; and environment. An implementation plan for 2010–14 was adopted in 2010, and, in 2014, a joint implementation plan was adopted for 2015–19. The second Africa–Turkey Summit took place in November 2014 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, and adopted three outcome documents: the Malabo Declaration, 2015–19 Joint Implementation Plan, and the Matrix of Key Priority Projects. As part of the Africa–Turkey follow-up mechanism, a Ministerial Review Conference was held in February 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey, to assess the Malabo Action Plan. The parties agreed to develop concrete projects, in line with Agenda 2063, in preparation for the third Africa–Turkey Summit, which is scheduled to be held in Turkey in 2020.

Africa–Korea

The Africa–Korea Forum was launched in Seoul, South Korea, in November 2006 as a follow-up mechanism of the Korean Initiative of African Development (KIAD), which was announced in March 2006 by the then Korean President Roh Moo-hyun during his visit to Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria. Although initially envisaged as a ministerial conference, the first Africa–Korea Forum was attended by five African Heads of State. The outcome documents adopted during the first Forum were the Seoul Declaration 2006 and the Action Plan 2006–09. These acknowledged that the first Forum “laid the foundation for a framework of friendship, partnership and cooperation between Korea and the African countries”, and reflected agreement that the Forum should be held on a three-year cycle to serve as a mechanism for substantive cooperation. The second and third Forums were held in 2009 and 2012 in Seoul, South Korea. The fourth and most recent Forum was held from 6 to 7 December 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and adopted the 2016 Addis Ababa Declaration and the fourth Africa–Korea Forum Framework of Cooperation (2017–21). The next Forum is expected to be held in 2021.

Partnerships Management and Resource Mobilisation Directorate

The Directorate’s mandate centres on managing and coordinating activities emanating from strategic partnerships at the multilateral level entered into by the AU with other parts of the world. In that context, it works towards addressing the needs of African people and aligning actions to the Union’s development and integration agenda as outlined in Agenda 2063. The Division is responsible for the overall vision, strategy and coordination of AU partnerships.

Partnerships Management and Resource Mobilisation Directorate liaises with all AUC technical and service delivery departments, directorates and autonomous units to advance programmes and projects identified as priorities under Agenda 2063 and its First Ten-Year Implementation Plan, and those considered important areas for cooperation with strategic partners.