Corruption as the greatest problem facing Africa topped this year’s Agenda of the 30th summit of head of government and head of state of the African Union (AU) opened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Today.
The summit, which is the biggest in the continent by the number of delegation from Africa Union member states, also invited head of the biggest organizations outside of the continent including Antonio Guterres, the secretary general of the United Nations and secretary general of the Arab league.
Africa should step up the fight against corruption, which has been threatening the “social cohesion of people” and negatively impacting the economy of the continent, Moussa Faki Mahamat, African Union Commission(AUC) Chairperson said.
The chairperson appreciated the president of Nigeria Muhamed Bahurai, who coined “Winning the fight against corruption,” a theme the Union foster for this year’s summit.
Immigration, slavery, illicit financial flow, and peace and security are also topics the chairperson addressed.
He said that Africa shall be financially independent so that it could finance the developmental programs meant to solve “risks” that are facing the continent in the wake of development stories.
The chairperson also suggested multilateral measures to deal with“the rise of national egoism, xenophobia” in the way to bring solidarity and equality among the people.
He also denounced the ill-treatment of migrants in Libya.
According the Chairperson, the AU is working with European Union and UN to solve the ill-treatment of migrants in Libya.
The AU has proposed a Youth Charter to improve the lives of the youth and tackles who perished in the desert while trying cross to Europe.
Secretary General, Antonio Guterres on his part said that the AU and UN have a “complementary development agendas”—Agenda 2063 and SDGS, respectively.
Africa is a home to “resilience and hope,” he said, adding that AU and UN signed cooperation agreements.
He also said that there shall be strategies in peace keeping operation in countries, which are trapped by political crisis as the number of troop’s causalities got increased.
Climate change, anti-corruption struggle, and poverty are areas that UN will closely work with the AU, he added.
Arab League secretary general, Ahmed Aboul Gheit,who attended the summit appreciated the Union for voting against the move of the US made by recognizing Jerusalem as Israeli capital and relocate its embassy.
The Summit, which will conclude by tomorrow, is expected to endorse Paul kagame, the President of Rwanda as its new chairperson replacing the out-going chairperson, Alpha Conde, the president of Guinea.