AU SUMMIT ENDS WITH LEADERS COMMITING TO INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

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African leaders have finished their discussions at the 39th African Union summit, which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from February 14 to 15.

Despite this year’s theme centring on water stability, Mahmoud Youssouf, chairperson of the AU Commission (AUC), said most of the deliberations revolved around peace and security on the continent.

On Sunday during a press conference held at the end of the summit at the AU headquarters, Youssouf stated that leaders of countries were committed to making sure the “Silencing the Guns in Africa” plan is achieved. This is a key part of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which aims to stop all wars, conflicts, and violence against women, and prevent genocide by the year 2030.

“This is a very important program. If we contemplate developing this continent and creating the integration conditions for our countries, we need to silence the guns. We need peace on this continent. We need stability on this continent, and we have a programme for that,” he said.

The AUC chair added that the discussions also revolved around reforms being put in place for the organisation, alongside the participation of the AU in the G20.

He said the commission also held side events that were focused on improving key sectors critical to the continent’s growth.

“We had a forum of the business community. That was also something new, given the fact that the financing of the development programmes is becoming more and more challenging,” Youssouf said.

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In addition, Youssouf noted that leaders recognised colonisation as a crime against humanity. He referenced the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, expressing the AU’s solidarity with Palestine.

“The African Union and member countries support the rights of the people of Palestine to become independent and have their own statehood,” he said.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa attended the opening session of the AU summit on Saturday.

In his address, he called for an immediate end to the conflict and thanked the AU for its long-standing solidarity.