Addis Ababa: Realizing AU’s Institutional Reform Key to Fulfill Aspirations: AUC Chairperson

Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat said maximum effort need to be exerted to realize AU’s structural reform so as to fulfill the continental aspirations.

“History will judge us very severely if the AU institutional reform does not fulfill its promises so much more that we are all imbue by Pan-African conviction” he said while opening the AU Summit.

The 30th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union under the theme: “Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation” has kicked off today in Addis Ababa.

It was at the 27th AU Summit in Kigali in July 2016 that Heads of State and Government adopted the decision on financing of the Union. It directs all member states to implement a 0.2 percent levy on eligible imports to finance the Union.

If this reform succeeds, the continental body will be able to make a quality leap towards the fulfillment of its aspirations, he said in his opening speech.

“All effective mobilization in the area will allow us to own our  development and our dignity respected instead of turning our hands to ask for foreign assistance, which are limited in terms of amount as well as accompanied by conditions that limit our independence” he stressed.

“It is the very condition of financial independence which itself guarantees that we take our destiny in our hands and our decision making serenity,” he said noting the reform is the means to enhance the peoples’ trust and Aus capability to fulfill their aspirations.

“Without [financial] independence Africa is noting, with [financial] independence it can be everything” the chairperson emphasized and added that the success of this process and action demands the commitment and the involvement of all.

In addition to realizing the reform, the Chairperson said that fighting corruption needs the involvement of all.

Fighting corruption has been chosen to be the theme of 2018 because of the devastating effect on the continent’s economic development, social cohesion and political order, Faki added.

Noting that the theme raises a lot of hope and expectations that are not to be dashed, the Chairperson pointed out, “the commission will do its best in implementation, but the prime responsibility rests on the shoulders of the member states”

 

source ena