Africa-Press – Angola. The mandate of the Angolan president, João Lourenço, as chairperson of the African Union (AU) has boosted the continental organization and strengthened the implementation of its strategic priorities, the AU Commission chairperson, Mohamed Ali Youssouf, said on Saturday.
In his speech at the 39th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the AU, Mohamed Ali Youssouf added that, during this period, the mechanisms for the implementation of the Union’s strategic priorities became more coordinated and efficient.
Mohamed Ali Youssouf stressed that the African Union Commission constitutes the main channel for coordinating actions aimed at implementing Agenda 2063, a structuring document adopted to guide the continent’s development between 2014 and 2028, in its ongoing ten-year plan.
The AU official said that this decade is characterized by a more rigorous implementation plan, focused on institutional consolidation, promoting peace and security, and responding to the economic and social challenges affecting member states.
He also addressed the humanitarian situation in various regions of the world, highlighting conflicts that continue to cause suffering to civilian populations, forced displacement, and serious violations of international humanitarian law.
He noted that from the Middle East to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, passing through Somalia and other unstable regions, populations continue to pay a high price for violence and insecurity.
Regarding Palestine, Youssouf advocated for an end to the suffering of the people and called for respect for international law and humanitarian principles, which he considered essential for promoting lasting peace.
The chairperson of the Commission reiterated the need to strengthen African unity and coordinated action in the face of global challenges. The opening session of the Summit was marked by the transfer of the presidency of the African Union to the Head of State, João Lourenço, the counterpart of Burundi.
The summit is addressing key issues such as water security, sanitation, continental peace and security, regional integration, economic cooperation, and the mobilization of innovative resources for the implementation of Agenda 2063.
It will also consider deliberations on AU institutional reforms, reports on regional crises in Sudan, South Sudan, and the Sahel, and appointments to the organization’s strategic councils and committees, including dialogues with African and international partners to strengthen partnerships and defining continental priorities.
The opening session was attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the President of the Italian Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni.
