Delegates attending AU summit pledge to strengthen continental ties

World Today

Delegates attending AU summit pledge to strengthen continental ties

It’s the second and final day of the African Union Summit with member states holding talks on Ethiopia.

The goals are strengthening cooperation and partnerships. CGTN’s Girum Chala reports from Addis Ababa.

Monday’s session started on a high note – honoring those who mediated an end to the recent political crisis in Gambia.

“On behalf of all of us a heartfelt gratitude to ECOWAS who under your leadership made us proud. As you stood with your colleagues with ECOWAS. Mauritania and others with the people of the Gambia and defended the values principles of our union,” Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the African Union Commission outgoing chairperson said.

The delegates also heard the new U.N. chief pledge his support.

“The United Nations is proud to be your partner and I’m proud to be your partner, I’m convinced the world has much to gain from African wisdom, African ideas and African solutions. It’s that spirit of possibility and partnership that drives me here,” António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General said.

And, after a year in charge, Chad’s president handed over the chair to his Guinean counterpart, Alpha Conde.

Idriss Deby also reminded delegates, the AU needs more funding from them – what he termed, sacrifices.

“Sacrifices that we all must make in order to make our continental organization and an independent body and give it credibility,” Idriss Deby, outgoing chairperson of African Union said.

Credibility is always a priority at these summits that the delegates come here every six months – most seeking action rather than just words.

Almost 40 heads of state are gathered in Addis this time. They still have plenty of ground to cover, even as the summit heads to its finale.


Nii Akuetteh talks about the African Union Summit

For more insight on the discussions at the African Union Summit, CGTN’s Asieh Namdar spoke to Nii Akuetteh, executive director of The African Immigrant Caucus here in Washington.