African Union Summit 2024 to Focus on Peace, Integration, Development, Among Others

By Samuel Ouma

Peace, Security, Integration and development are among the top items to be discussed during this year's African Union Summit 2024.

During the meeting, African leaders will discuss improving security and resolving conflicts in some countries. They want to find new, sustainable solutions to restore peace and stability.

The summit will kick off from February 17-18 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The assembly will be preceded by the African Union Executive Council meeting slated for February 15 and 16.

Meanwhile, the 47th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) is underway. The session began on January 15 and will conclude on January 26.

While addressing the PRC, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the head of the African Union Commission, raised concerns about conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan. He stated that these conflicts and a shaky global situation require more action.

"These different conflicts and many other issues on a global scale enable us to take stock of the fragmentation of the world. Africa's only recourse in the face of the challenges of our time is its unity and solidarity.

A unity that we build with perseverance and tolerance, in a cooperative effort that transcends particularities, neutralizes considerations contrary to the general interest and constantly draws inspiration from mutual understanding," said Chair Faki.

Ambassador Youssouf Mondoha Assoumani of the Comoros, who leads the PRC, agreed with Faki. He urged everyone to collaborate to solve the crises that are making life difficult for the people.

“Let us together make the wish for a world of peace, a world of solidarity, a world of tolerance where the only weapon would be the weapon of dialogue, for a harmonious living together,” said Ambassador Youssouf.

The African Union will also concentrate on education and training, with the year's theme focusing on educating an Africa fit for the twenty-first century: building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, qualitative, lifelong, and relevant learning for Africa.

According to Faki, success in education will have significant knock-on effects on sectors such as security, population growth control, women's and girls' empowerment, agriculture, digitalization, and migration, among others.

The AU chair stated that educational reforms will reverse the trend of poverty and increase Africa's attractiveness in terms of investment, thereby creating prosperity.

"Our theme for the Year 2024 is devoted to pondering over an in-depth reform of education in Africa, with the prospect of training young people endowed with intellectual, scientific and ethical capacities to serve the transformation of our continent to make it a comfortable and productive living space," he added.