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AU Summit 2023 Tackles Conflict, Focuses on Trade

Addis Ababa was the venue for the the 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly from February 18-19, 2023.  This follows the 42nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council that was held on February 15-16, 2023, which resolved to uphold Africa's resilience to challenges and achieve a successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Numerous dignitaries, including heads of state, ministers, and other senior officials, from nations across Africa  attended. Hundreds of other delegates, as well as business leaders and journalists, also travelled to the city for the Summit. Among leaders who attended were South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, Kenya's President William Ruto and Rwanda's President Paul Kagame.

Kagame has been attending a special meeting on the sidelines of the AU sessions - on the conflict in DR Congo and his country's alleged support of the M23 rebels there. 

The African Union summit adopted recommendations from its sub committee, the Peace and Security Council chaired by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, for enhanced dialogue between the DR Congo and Rwanda to end conflict in Eastern DRC that has seen the displacement of thousand of families, Zvamaida Murwira writes for The Herald.

On trade, the AU noted that only four countries had so far been able to integrate requirements of AfCFTA. The organisation urged member states to move forward and ratify the protocol.  

The AU is, according to its outgoing chairperson and Senegalese President Macky Sall, making efforts for the continent to join the G20, where South Africa is a member as a country from the continent.

InFocus

DIRCO/GCIS/Flickr

The African Union building in Addis Ababa.

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