Addis Ababa: The upcoming African Union Summit in Addis Ababa provides an opportunity to strategize for a more successful future, particularly in addressing setbacks like silencing the guns and accelerating economic development across the continent, Ethiopia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the AU, Ambassador Nebiyu Tedla remarked.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the summit will take place in Addis Ababa next week, with a primary focus on the theme of “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.” The 38th Summit is expected to address the historical injustices stemming from colonialism, slavery, and apartheid. The summit aims to galvanize support for the African Reparations Agenda, uniting the African citizenry and diaspora in a call for justice and recognition of the profound impact of these historical crimes.
The summit will also reassess and recalibrate Agenda 2063, following a review of its first decade (2013-2023). It is expected to discuss ways of tackling key challenges, including strategies to overcome setbacks in achieving specific goals, especially in areas like silencing the guns and accelerating economic development. Strengthening the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will also be a central theme of the discussions.
In an exclusive interview with ENA, Ambassador Nebiyu Tedla emphasized the significance of the upcoming summit and highlighted the country’s extensive preparations. Ambassador Nebiyu emphasized Ethiopia’s full readiness to host a productive and impactful AU summit. This summit is particularly significant as it provides an opportunity to reflect on the first decade of Agenda 2063, acknowledging both its achievements and the challenges encountered.
According to Ambassador Nebiyu, the summit provides an opportunity to strategize for a more successful future, particularly in addressing setbacks like silencing the guns and accelerating economic development across the continent. Strengthening the AfCFTA will also be a crucial part of the discussions. The review of the first decade of Agenda 2063 has shown progress in certain areas, but also revealed that key goals, such as achieving peace and security and fostering robust economic growth, have faced significant challenges. As a result, the upcoming summit will focus on developing strategies to address these gaps and bring the AU’s flagship program back on course.
Ambassador Nebiyu also stressed the importance of the African Peer Review Mechanism in this process. Agenda 2063 is the AU’s ambitious framework for Africa’s transformation, setting strategic goals for economic growth, sustainable development, peace, and security. The AfCFTA aims to create a unified market for goods and services across the continent, promoting intra-African trade and investment.
Ambassador Nebiyu also emphasized the thorough preparations undertaken by Ethiopia to ensure the success of the summit. The Ambassador also said that the country is finalizing the necessary documentation to ensure the summit outcomes reflect the country’s national interests while contributing to the broader progress of the continent. The upcoming AU summit is expected to draw heads of state and government, along with other high-ranking officials from across Africa, to deliberate on these critical issues and make decisions that will shape the future of the continent.