Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Addresses 36th AU Summit
DPM and FM Demeke Mekonnen Participates in the 36th AU Ministerial SessionAU Summit 2023 on Agenda 2063
AU Summit 2023 on Africa Continental Free Trade Area AgreementAU Summit 2023 on Issues of Peace and Security
AU Summit 2023 on Africa CDCAfrica and the African Union
The 42nd Executive Council and the 36th Assembly of the African Union, held in Addis Ababa from February 15–19, 2023, with the participation of more than 30 heads of state and government and a large number of high dignitaries, concluded successfully, passing various decisions, resolutions, motions, and declarations. The main subjects of the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly focused on peace and security, economic, social, and administrative issues. (See articles on the outcomes of the AU Summit 2023 on the Status of Agenda 2063, Implementation of AcFTA, Peace and Security, Africa CDC)The Assembly of the African Union appointed Dr. Jean Kaseya of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as Director General of the African CDC for a mandate of 4 years. According to AU, Dr. Jean will oversee the delivery of the core functions and key objectives of the organization, as per its statute.
The African Union (AU) has adopted the action compact of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) to champion private sector inclusion in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The decision was reached after member states unanimously endorsed the compact action at the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU, which took place from February 18–19, 2023, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.The African Union Commission, through its Departments of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) and Economic Development, Trade, Industry, and Mining (ETIM), hosted a successful investor round table on the Common Africa Agro-Parks (CAAPs) Initiative at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Jointly organized by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), and the Africa Export, Import Bank (Afrexim Bank), the event took place on Friday, (February 17) in the margins of the 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union. A CAAPs Steering Committee meeting was held on February 16.
Ethiopia
During his opening speech at the 36th African Union summit, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized a number of issues that should be top priorities for the continent. (See article)Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has sent on Friday (February 17) a message of condolences to Türkiye over the loss of lives and destruction following the devastating earthquake. In a phone call with Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister Abiy conveyed his condolences to the government and people of Türkiye on this difficult time. Following his phone conversation with the Turkish President, PM Abiy said, “Ethiopia is always committed to help a friend in need and extends its humble support of materials and rescue teams to the recovery work in Türkiye.”
From February 15–16, 2023, foreign ministers of various member states of the African Union convened the 42nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the Union, chaired by Madame Aissata Tall Sall, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Senegal, under the theme “Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation.” Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, made opening remarks at this historic Council meeting. (See article)Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, spoke over the phone with the Foreign Minister of Sweden, Tobias Billström, on Thursday (February 24) on issues of mutual interest. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke, briefed his Swedish counterpart about the implementation of the Pretoria Peace Process, highlighting the necessity of collaboration from partners in the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. Tobias Billström, for his part, appreciated the peace process and underscored his country‘s willingness to support it. Both parties stated that expanded engagements should be undertaken in order to further strengthen the long-standing ties between Ethiopia and Sweden.
During the Joint Economic and Trade Commission meeting held on Tuesday ( February 21), Ethiopia and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish an investment and economic cooperation working group aimed at jointly boosting bilateral economic and trade relations in strategic fields. The MOU was co-signed by Ahmed Shide, Ethiopia‘s Minister of Finance, representing the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, and Li Fei, Assistant Minister of Commerce of the People‘s Republic of China, on behalf of China‘s Government.The Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, Mamo Miheretu, has held a meeting with the Director General of the People‘s Bank of China in Beijing, Yi Gang. The Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia said on Thursday (February 23) that the meeting has great potential for expanded relations between the two central banks. The two sides also discussed ways to build robust economic ties between Ethiopia and China.
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The MoU was signed with the purpose of providing a framework for the provision of Ethiopian Airlines products and services to IGAD. Per the MoU, Ethiopian Airlines will also provide hospitality services to IGAD at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel and assign a dedicated team to handle the travel and hospitality needs of IGAD.Ethiopian Airlines, the largest network operating carrier in Africa, has confirmed it plans to restart direct flights between Abidjan and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport on May 29, 2023. The four times weekly flights will be operated between Addis Ababa and New York via Abidjan on Boeing 787 aircraft.
Ethiopia earned USD 250 million in the last seven months from the export of oilseeds and grains. Sesame, Niger, and Castor beans were the most exported oilseeds, while soybeans claimed the lion‘s share in the export of grains. The main destinations for the export of oilseeds and pulses were Israel and India, respectively. Oilseeds are also exported to the UAE, Singapore, Vietnam, Turkey, the US, Jordan, and Japan. Kenya and Sudan also receive grain supplies from Ethiopia.Borena Zone of Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia has been experiencing severe drought condition over the past three years due to lack of rainfall. The recurrent drought has affected most parts of the area and caused the death of over 3.3 million livestock, leading the semi-pastoral communities into destitution. Over the last three years, more than 800,000 residents have been exposed to a catastrophic situation due to the recurrent drought, according to the local administration.
Borena Zone of Oromia Regional State disclosed that at least 4.4 million bales of hay are needed to save 10 percent of the cattle affected by the drought. It is stated that more than 3 million livestock have already died due to starvation, of which 85 percent are cattle. The Zonal Administration stated that efforts are underway to salvage the remaining 230,000 cattle in dire condition and that 4.4 million bales of hay are desperately needed for the rescue operation. Jarso Boru, the chief administrator of Borena Zone, said 135,000 quintals of animal fodder is needed, but only 1 percent of the required amount has been met.The 8th Africa Day of School Feeding (ADSF) conference is scheduled to be held next week at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa. The 8th Africa Day of School Feeding is aimed at heightening the importance of investing in school feeding programs and giving due consideration to backlogs created by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to AU‘s official statement. The event will be held from February 27 to March 1, 2023, under the theme “Boosting Local Food Procurement Systems and Regional Value Chains: The Role of AfCFTA for Sustained Home-Grown School Feeding Programmes and Improved Learning.”
The European Union parliament has affirmed that it is keen on working closely with Ethiopia in the fields of finance, exchange of experience, and provision of medical supplies. Member of the Standing Committee on Health, Social Development, Culture, and Sports at the House of Peoples‘ Representatives of Ethiopia and the Chairperson of the Standing Committee, Abdulsemed Hussien, received at his office on Friday (February 24) the EU Parliament delegation, led by Kathleen Van Brempt, and held a discussion. Abdulsmed reiterated that Ethiopia will work together with the EU to improve its health sector, especially in the areas of mothers and children, capacity building, exchange of experiences, and provision of medical supplies.Djibouti
Djibouti on Wednesday (February 22) sent medical supplies to Türkiye in the wake of twin earthquakes that shook the country earlier this month. Medical equipment, medicines, blankets, and heaters donated by Djibouti’s Health Ministry, as well as medical devices provided by Djibouti’s companies, were sent to Turkey through the efforts of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency’s Djibouti Program Coordination Office.Kenya
The Safaricom-led consortium in Ethiopia will pay $150 million (KSh18.9 billion) as license fees to roll out M-Pesa in the populous nation if the proposed regulations by the Horn of Africa country are passed. The amount referred to as an investment protection fee is contained in the proposed rules that will guide the licensing and launch of mobile money operations such as M-Pesa.President William Ruto hosted representatives of Kenya to the Pan-African Parliament at State House in Nairobi on Friday (February 24). In a statement, the President said increasing trade and investment among African nations is the ultimate Pan-African agenda. “The role of the Pan African Assembly is therefore to remove all barriers to thriving intra-Africa trade,” he said. In November 2022, the Senate approved a list of five lawmakers to represent Kenya in the Pan-African Parliament.
US First Lady Jill Biden is set to arrive in Kenya on Friday (February 24) for a two-day visit. She will meet with and engage with those affected by the drought and facing food insecurity.Somalia
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE met on Friday (February 23) with Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The two leaders discussed ongoing relations between the two nations and areas for further cooperation, especially with regard to enhancing development and stability in Somalia. The meeting took place at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX 2023), which is being held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).Somali state television announced on Wednesday (February 22) night that 20 al-Shabaab terrorists were killed in an airstrike in the country’s central region of Hiran. The sources reported that the Somalian intelligence forces, in cooperation with international allied forces, carried out an air strike against al-Shabaab terrorists in the region of Hiran. According to the report, the air attack targeted a vehicle belonging to al-Shabaab terrorists, killing 20 of them.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday (February 24) announced the appointment of Aisa Kirabo Kacyira of Rwanda as Head of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). Ms. Kacyira will succeed Lisa Filipetto of Australia, to whom the Secretary-General expresses his gratitude for her dedication and effective leadership of UNSOS.Drought trends in the Horn of Africa are now worse than they were during the 2011 drought, during which hundreds of thousands of people died. The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center said on Wednesday (February 22) that below-normal rainfall is expected during the rainy season over the next three months. “In parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda that have been most affected by the recent drought, this could be the sixth consecutive failed rainfall season,” it said.
The new Deputy Force Commander (DFC), in charge of Support and Logistics for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), Major General Peter Kimani Muteti, has assumed duty. He replaces Maj. Gen. Gerbi Regassa Kebede, who concluded his tour of duty late last year, having served since 2021, first under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and later, ATMIS. Maj. Gen. Muteti arrived in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Sunday and was received by senior ATMIS military officers, led by the ATMIS military Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Teggegn Kindu Gezu.Sudan
Sudan’s Foreign Minister Affairs minister Ali Al-Saddiq and the accompanying delegation on Monday (February 20) arrived in the Kingdom of Bahrain on a two-day official visit. He was welcomed upon his arrival at the Bahrain International Airport by Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Sudan’s Chargé d’Affaires Abdulrahman Ali Abdulrahman, and other officials.Sudan on Sunday (February 19) dispatched a plane loaded with humanitarian aid to the victims of twin earthquakes that killed thousands in Türkiye. The plane is carrying 20,000 blankets and 2,000 tents for the victims of the Feb. 6 earthquake disaster.
More than 400,000 people were displaced in Sudan in 2022, mostly because of conflicts in the western Darfur and southern Blue Nile regions, the UN said on Tuesday (February 21). The International Organization for Migration said most of the 418,000 people displaced last year— about 314,000 — left their homes because of conflict. Blue Nile had the biggest share of displacements, with 30.6 percent, followed by West Darfur with 22.8 percent and South Darfur at 11.2 percent. Another 103,000 people were displaced because of flooding during the rainy season, according to the IOM.South Sudan
The Ministry of Federal Affairs said they can now embark on building a democratic federal Constitution after the council of ministers approved the long-awaited federal policy and strategic plan document on Wednesday (February 22). Clement Philemon Baime, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Federal Affairs, described the cabinet‘s approval of the policy and strategic framework as a significant achievement for the ministry‘s policies.South Sudan said on Tuesday (February 21) that the arms embargo imposed on it is stalling the implementation of the security arrangement in the revitalized agreement on resolving the conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Michael Makuei Lueth, the minister for Information, Communications Technology and Postal Services, said the government had graduated the Necessary Unified Forces without arms and that once they are deployed, they will not be able to provide security due to a lack of armaments.
South Sudan and several other countries in the horn and east of Africa may have less rain over the next three months. A new weather report released by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) on Thursday (February 23) predicts that the countries within the northern parts of the continent may grapple with drought. In the projection, drier weather will last from March through May in parts of Rwanda, Burundi, eastern Tanzania, and western South Sudan.The Federal Government of Germany has extended the operation of its forces in South Sudan by 12 months. The German battalion is part of the United Nations Mission (UNMISS) forces stationed in the Upper Nile and Equatoria. Germany said that 50 personnel currently in South Sudan will continue with the mission until 2023. “The participation of soldiers of the Federal Armed Forces in the UN mission in South Sudan is to be extended until March 31, 2024,” the German government said in a press statement.
To protect and assist 2.2 million South Sudanese refugees in the region this year, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, together with 108 humanitarian and development partners, appealed on Tuesday (February 21) for US$1.3 billion. The funds will go towards supporting South Sudanese refugees and their local host communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda.Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers Association (APPO) (https://APPOSecretariat.org), will attend the sixth edition of South Sudan Oil & Power 2023 (https://apo-opa.info/3kfMrQo), taking place from June 14–16, in Juba, to facilitate deals among African petroleum producers and global investors. As the only major oil producer in East Africa, South Sudan is looking to global partners to advance exploration and production efforts and to its regional counterparts in the Nile Basin and East African Community to foster new relationships, consolidating its position as the engine of business and investment in East Africa.
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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Addresses 36th AU Summit
During his opening speech at the 36th African Union summit, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed emphasized a number of issues that should be top priorities for the continent. The Prime Minister highlighted the six-decade journey of the Organization of African Unity since its establishment, paying tribute to those far-sighted Founding Fathers whose vision of African unity the current leaders need to celebrate, nurture, and implement. He underlined the significant victories that the current leaders have accomplished, although they have faced many setbacks. He also expressed that he is optimistic that there are critical areas through which victories can be sustained and multiplied.The Prime Minister continued his remark by expressing that Ethiopia was just coming out of a costly conflict and celebrating the signing on November 2, 2022, of the Pretoria Peace Accord between the Ethiopian Government and the TPLF, which has led to the silencing of the guns in the northern part of our country. Ethiopia is where it is today in no small part because of the tireless efforts of the African Union and the wisdom of its deeply held belief in the principle of “African solutions to African problems,” he stated. African disputes should continue to be solved by African mechanisms without the interference of the outside world. The prime minister quoted His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie in his address to the first Summit of the OAU in May 1963, which stated that when disputes arise, the effort to resolve them “must be confined to this continent and quarantined from the contamination of non-African interference.”
The Prime Minister conveyed his gratitude to those who have contributed to the peace process between the Government of Ethiopia and the TPLF, as well as the importance of African solutions for African problems. He stated that while the principle of “African Solutions to African Problems” is widely raised in the scope of conflict, it is imperative that the practice be extended to continental food security and food sovereignty issues and other areas of cooperation. The cooperation that the continent should continue to practice should be on global issues like climate change, fair representation in global institutions like the United Nations, and representation in the G8 and G20. The importance of telling Africa’s stories through the establishment of a media house was the most important.*******************
DPM and FM Demeke Mekonnen Participates in the 36th AU Ministerial Session
From February 15–16, 2023, foreign ministers of various member states of the African Union convened the 42nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the Union, chaired by Madame Aissata Tall Sall, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Senegal, under the theme “Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation.”
Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, made opening remarks at this historic Council meeting. In his remarks, Demeke noted the pivotal importance of Pan-Africanism as a sine qua non to achieving the unity and economic development of the African continent. Calling upon the participants to keep faith in the Union and the Commission, the DPM and FM stated that Africans should lead their endeavor to silence the guns in Africa in tandem with optimal use of our peace and security architecture. He said that doing so will help us address the remaining challenges in conflict management, prevention, and resolution. Peace succeeds with a proactive approach and strong national ownership, Demeke told the dignitaries.Regarding the status of the Pretoria Peace Accord, Demeke informed the distinguished participants that its implementation is on track, while assuring them of the Government of Ethiopia’s commitment to redoubling efforts to ensure its full implementation. He echoed the fact that the AU-led Peace Process demonstrated the true essence of “African Solutions to African Problems.” “We are also working with the African Union Commission to support the work of the Monitoring, Verification, and Compliance Mechanism, which is witnessing major developments in the areas of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration,” he added.
Among others, Demeke, expressed the gratitude of the People and Government of Ethiopia to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and their Excellencies Olusegun Obasanjo, Uhuru Kenyatta, and Dr. Phumuzile Mlalmbo for playing key roles in the AU-led peace process that bore fruit. He also thanked the Republic of South Africa for graciously hosting the peace talks and accompanying the negotiations to successful completion and the Republic of Kenya for hosting the implementation talks in Nairobi, as well as Ethiopia’s international partners for their unreserved support throughout the process.On the sidelines of participating in the Executive Council, Demeke also met with several foreign ministers and deliberated on ways of further expediting ties in bilateral (trade, investment, and tourism, for instance) and multilateral venues of cooperation. Among others, he conferred with the Foreign Ministers of Somalia (Abshir Omar Jama), Spain (Jose Manuel Albares Bueno), Cameroon (Lejeune Mbella Mbella), Cote d’Ivoire (Kandia Camara), Gambia (Dr. Mamadou Tangara), Malawi (Nancy Tembo), Tunisia (Nabil Ammar), Libya (Najla Elmangoush), Gabon (Hermann Immongault), Norway (Anniken Huitfeldt), and Portugal (João Gomes Cravinho).
During these itinerant sideline meetings, Demeke briefed the esteemed dignitaries on current affairs and called upon them to advance cooperation between Ethiopia and their respective countries in the areas of trade and investment. He also conferred with Professor Petteri Taalas, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization, on issues of mutual interest. He underscored the fact that the Government of Ethiopia is committed to the full implementation of the Pretoria Peace Agreement while capitalizing on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas affected by the war. They also pledged to continue working together to strengthen the ties.*******************
AU Summit 2023 on Agenda 2063
The evaluation report on the status of implementation of Agenda 2063 was presented to the Assembly by Alassane Outtara, President of Cote d’Ivoire. The First Ten-Years Implementation Plan (FTYIP) of Agenda 2063 (2014–2023) was prepared after the adoption of the Agenda 2063 Framework Document by the AU Summit in January 2015 as the basis for Africa‘s long-term socio-economic and integrative transformation. The first ten years’ implementation plan progress reports were presented twice, in 2020 and 2022, respectively, in which Ethiopia was chosen to present its national Agenda 2063 implementation report as a pilot country.
The evaluation report shows the implementation of the First Ten Years Plan of Agenda 2063 was unsatisfactory. With regards to the performance of the flagship projects, while notable progress was registered in the implementation of some projects, such as the AfCFTA, and SAATM, there arehowever a number of projects that registered limited progress like financial institutions and Annual Africa Economic Platform. Some of the factors that contributed to the poor performance of these projects include, but are not limited to, low levels of ratifications, low funding for capital-intensive projects, and inadequate skills and capacities.The report recommended that, since some flagship projects that have a greater impact on integration are interconnected and reinforces each other; their implementation should be prioritized concurrently. For instance, as prioritization is accorded to the AfCFTA, similar efforts should be made to advance the African Passport, the SAATM, the high-speed train network, and the African financial institutions. It is also recommended that, as all the flagship projects are considered relevant, their implementation be re-prioritized based on their impact on integration, subsidiarity, and sustainability.
With regards to the development of the Second Ten Years Implementation Plan (STYIP) of Agenda 2063 (2024–2033), it was discussed that the second decade of Agenda 2063 should draw lessons from the FTYIP with a view to implementing Africa‘s blueprint along defined pathways for accelerated progress and enhanced performance of the defined goals and aspirations of the African people. The design of the STYIP is proposed to be based on ambitions rather than specific priorities to allow for adaptation to specific development contexts at the sub-national, national, and regional level. It is also proposed that the levers of change such as communication, strategic partnerships, and monitoring will require greater attention for the successful execution of Agenda 2063 in the second decade of implementation. The final report of the implementation of the first ten years and the preparation of the second ten-year plan of Agenda 2063 will be finalized by July 2023.*******************
AU Summit 2023 on Africa Continental Free Trade Area AgreementThe AfCFTA is one of the 15 flagship projects of Agenda 2063 and a key driver for Africa to realize the structural transformation and industrialization of the continent as envisaged in the AU Agenda 2063. The main goal of the theme for 2023 is to secure the commitment of all stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA and the continent’s overall economic integration agenda. It will also serve to identify gaps, challenges, and the support needed.
It was agreed during the discussion on the theme of the year that Africa accounts for 17% of the world‘s population but only contributes 3% to the world‘s GDP. The biggest challenges facing the continent of Africa will be to improve its infrastructure, strengthen its industrial development, ensure its food sovereignty, improve the business climate to attract foreign direct investment, and boost intra-African trade. The implementation of the Agenda 2063 programs for these sectors and the implementation of the AfCFTA will enable the continent to emerge from the colonial pact that reduced it to a mere reservoir of raw materials. As a result, Africa’s duty is to increase wealth production and create jobs for the continent’s youth through value chains.The acceleration of the implementation of AfCFTA requires the mobilization of all Member States for better funding of the AfCFTA Secretariat, which in turn, in conjunction with its Strategic Partners, will spare no effort to design and develop programs in the interest of the peoples of the continent, which also depends on the acceleration of other flagship projects of Agenda 2063: infrastructure, industries, agriculture, intra-African trade, and business climate.
The Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was signed in 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda, and entered into force on May 30, 2019. The AfCFTA envisions a single continental market for goods and services, as well as free movement of businesspeople and investments. The agreement is also aimed at resolving the challenges of multiple and overlapping memberships in regional free trade agreements and expediting continental integration processes. All African countries except Eritrea have signed the AfCFTA Agreement. Currently, 47 countries, including Ethiopia, have signed the agreement and deposited their respective instruments of ratification with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.Status of Negotiations
African countries have collectively undertaken commitments to liberalize substantially all trade by eliminating tariffs on 97 percent of tariff lines over a specified period of time. The remaining 3% of tariff lines (the exclusion list) are those products on which no tariff reduction is being considered. As of today, 36 tariff offers, including those from three (3) customs unions (EAC, ECOWAS, and CEMAC), have been technically verified.The negotiations on Phase One of the AfCFTA Protocols on Trade in Goods, Trade in Services, and Dispute Settlement have been completed. Accordingly, the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) has been established, and the selection of a seven-member appellate body is underway. Negotiations on Phase Two protocols namely investment, competition policy, and intellectual property rights, have been completed, and the protocols have been adopted by the Assembly of the African Union held February 18–19, 2023, in Addis Ababa after legal scrubs by the Justice and Legal Ministers. The Phase Three negotiations on two protocols—women and youth in trade and digital trade—are in progress.
Trade in GoodsTrade in Services
There has been significant progress in the negotiations on the Protocol on Trade in Services and its annexes. So far, the Secretariat has received 52 initial offers, covering the five priority service sectors, namely: business, communication, financial, tourism, and transport services. The service tariff offers of 21 countries have been verified, and the service tariff offers of 25 countries are undergoing the verification process. A few countries, have not submitted their tariff offers until now. A Guided Trade Initiative on Trade in Services has been set up, and interested countries are expected to join.Negotiations on Phase II Protocols
Negotiations on phase two protocols (investment, competition policy, and intellectual property rights) have been completed, and the protocols have been adopted by the Assembly of the African Union held February 18–19, 2023, in Addis Ababa after legal scrubs by the Justice and Legal Ministers. However, the protocol on investment was adopted with the exception of articles 19 and 21, which have raised differences at the Executive Council and will be finalized in July 2023, as well as the protocol on intellectual property rights, which was also adopted with the exception of Article 31, which raised the issue of duplication with the existing mechanism.Negotiations on Phase III Protocols
Negotiations on phase three protocols, namely digital trade and women and youth in trade, are underway. The Ministerial Conference, aimed at brainstorming the start of the protocol on women and youth in trade, was held from September 12–14, 2022, in Dar es Salaam, under the patronage of President Samia Suhulu of Tanzania. President Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia addressed the conference virtually, stressing the crucial role of women and youth for the successful implementation of the AfCFTA.Special Economic Zones
The AfCFTA Council of Ministers approved the Ministerial Regulations on Special Economic Zones during their 11th Meeting, held in Gaberone, Botswana, from February 11th to 12th, 2023, and submitted them to the 36th Summit of the Union, which adopted them accordingly. The main purpose of this regulation is to guide the treatment of goods produced within SEZs across the continent. SEZs, which can take different forms depending on the country, play a key role in attracting investment, stimulating industrialization and job creation, and promoting exports.Status of Implementation of the AfCFTA
Trading under the AfCFTA Agreement was launched on January 1, 2021, by AU Assembly decision, but actual trading stalled due to technical reasons. It is against this backdrop that the AfCFTA Secretariat facilitated the “Guided Trade Initiative” among interested parties that have met the minimum requirements for trade. Assisted by the Secretariat, Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Tunisia have exchanged lists of goods and signature samples and started trading under the agreement.The AfCFTA Operational tools which facilitate and augment intra-African trade are being developed. Some of these tools are the AfCFTA Rules of Origin Manual and the AfCFTA e-Tariff Book, which promote the accessibility of AfCFTA preferences to businesses. These tools were endorsed by the recent AU Summit in Niamey.
AfCFTA and EthiopiaEthiopia was among the first to sign and ratify the AFTA agreement. In the face of fierce global trade competition and trade-related unilateral restrictions of duty-free opportunities by some countries, it is advisable for Ethiopia to finalize the tariff offers and start trading under the agreement to maximize its benefits.
Ethiopia has opened most of its service sectors for foreign investment and is preparing to open up the banking sector and other state-owned enterprises. These measures are believed to create a conducive environment for the implementation of the AFCFTA agreement and maximize the opportunities arising from it.*******************
AU Summit 2023 on Issues of Peace and SecurityOn the report of the outcome of the Second Regional Consultations on the review of the protocol relating to the establishment of the Peace and Security Council, it was recalled that the 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union has ordered, based on the request raised from the northern region that they do not have fair representation in the African Union Peace and Security Council, to look into whether there is a possibility to amend PSC Protocol Art. 5(1). Regional consultations were made, and recommendations were presented to the Assembly. Based on the consultation, various concerns were raised that an equitable distribution of seats among the five AU regions could be realized by sharing three seats for each region. However, due to a lack of consensus at the Executive Council and even at the plenary session of the Assembly, the recommendations of the chairperson of the commission to establish the AD HOC Committee of the heads of state and Government were not implemented, and the consultation was not finalized.
According to the report of the AU Committee of Ten (C-10) Heads of State and Government on the reform of the UN Security Council, by Julius Maada Bio, president of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the chair of the committee reported that the committee has engaged with various stakeholder groups, including the United States president, Joe Biden, regarding advancing the African Common Position based on the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration on Security Council Reform. The report stated that there is a convergence of understanding among the P5 countries on the African common position and that there is a need for African countries to articulate the common position at various platforms, including their statements at the UN General Assembly.*******************
AU Summit 2023 on Africa CDCThe decision to establish the African CDC was taken by Assembly Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.499 (XXII) at the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly in January 2014. The item was proposed by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Accordingly, the CDC was formally established by Assembly Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.554 (XXIV) at the 24th Ordinary Session of the Assembly held in 2015. It was subsequently launched on January 31, 2017 as a Specialized Technical Institution of the African Union.
In its first five years of operation, the Africa CDC has become a continental leader and a central player in the fight against health threats in Africa. However, it continued to face administrative, operational, and governance-related challenges that affected its optimal performance. According to the report of the commission on the operationalization of the Africa CDC, the ability of the Africa CDC to fully deliver on its mandate had been significantly constrained by inadequate operational support from AUC Service Departments, unclear reporting lines, inadequate political synergy, and a lack of appropriate authority to execute its functions in a timely and efficient manner.The CDC‘s ability to carry out an effective emergency response has been severely challenged. Therefore, Africa CDC has not been as fast as it should be in its response to disease outbreaks due to long internal approval and bureaucratic processes for procurement, finance, and recruitment, as well as ambiguous governance mechanisms. This has necessitated a review of the statute. To this end, the Executive Council instructed the Commission to produce a road map and framework of operations for the CDC in Africa.
The Commission accordingly established a Taskforce on Operationalization of the Africa CDC to propose relevant recommendations, including a roadmap and framework of operations outlining the financial, legal, and structural implications of fully operationalizing the African CDC in line with its statute.The task force divided its work into two phases. Phase I dealt with administrative functions such as staffing, finance, and procurement that should be transferred to Africa CDC, based on the current statute, and phase II was to review the statute of Africa CDC and, where applicable, propose amendments that would address the numerous concerns and requests made on the urgent need for an autonomous Africa CDC.
The Task Force on Phase I completed its work in June 2021 and presented recommendations that were subsequently approved by the Chairperson of the Commission. These recommendations, which are critical in addressing some of the Africa CDC‘s immediate operational challenges, are in the process of implementation. During the 41st ordinary session of the Executive Council meeting held in Lusaka, Zambia, in July 2022, the commission reported that there had been a delay in the implementation of Phase I operationalization, especially with regards to staffing.Phase I of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) was officially inaugurated on January 11, 2023, by Qin Gang, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China, who was on his first official visit to Ethiopia, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki Mahamat. On the occasion, Foreign Minister Qin Gang reiterated that China’s diplomatic priority will always be to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with African countries, and that no matter how the international environment changes, China and Africa will always be a community with a shared future.
The Phase II High-Level Taskforce, chaired by the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, reviewed the challenges faced by the Africa CDC as well as the Phase I report. It was agreed that, to solve most of the challenges, there was a need for the revision of the CDC statute in Africa. Its recommendations were approved by the Chairperson and presented to the 35th Assembly meeting held in February 2022 in Addis Ababa.The Africa Union Heads of State and Government during its 35th Ordinary Assembly session, through a decision (Decision AU/Dec.835(XXXV)), delegated their authority to the Executive Council to consider the endorsement of amendments to the Africa CDC Statute in line with the following directives: a) The Africa CDC shall be an autonomous body of the Union charged with the responsibility of prevention and control of diseases in Africa; b) A new governance structure that allows for strategic leadership and ownership by the Member States at the highest level of Heads of State and Government; c) The Africa CDC Secretariat to be headed by a Director General at a proper grade; and d) The Commission to put in place modalities for full implementation of the updated Africa CDC Statute.
Accordingly, the Executive Council in Lusaka in July 2022 endorsed the amendments to its statute, which mandate that it be an autonomous body of the Union charged with the responsibility of prevention and control of diseases in Africa and headed by a DG at a proper grade. The statute also provides Africa CDC with a new governance structure that allows for strategic leadership and ownership by member states at the highest level.The Council further instructed the Commission to expedite the full implementation of the recommendations of the Phase I operationalization of the Africa CDC and requested the Commission submit the revised Africa CDC organizational structure and a detailed report on the operations of the Africa Epidemics Fund, including financial, legal, and structural implications, to the Executive Council in February 2023.
The Commission presented the new draft structure of the Africa CDC with 290 staff proposals for approval during the Structures Sub-Committee meeting on February 1, 2023; however, after lengthy discussion, the sub-committee differed on the matter, requesting the Commission provide financial implication of the new proposed structure. In addition, the subcommittee requested that the Commission expedite the recruitment of the Director General and the hiring of the 65 approved staff positions, which were approved accordingly.On the election of Africa CDC Director General, the Committee of Heads of State and Government on Africa CDC approved the candidate from the DRC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, to lead Africa CDC for the next four years, and the Assembly has endorsed the election.
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