AU's 8th mid-year coordination meeting convenes in Egypt

The eighth mid-year coordination meeting of the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) kicked off in Egypt on Sunday. The gathering brought together numerous African heads of state to examine the progress towards the AU's 2026 goal of ensuring sustainable water access and sanitation systems as part of Agenda 2063.

The meeting also focused on the latest advancements in strengthening coordination and integration among Africa's RECs, advancing the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and accelerating the AU's institutional development.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi addressed the meeting, emphasizing the importance of enhancing coordination among the AU, economic communities, and regional mechanisms to bolster sustainable development in African nations. He stressed Egypt's stance against foreign interference in the internal affairs of African nations, calling for respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity as the foundation for stability on the continent.

El-Sisi advocated for the full implementation of AfCFTA, which commenced in 2019, and highlighted the potential benefits of a unified African market, including capitalizing on Africa's vast productive capacity, boosting intra-African trade, fostering industrialization, and generating more employment opportunities.

Burundi's President and AU Chairperson, Evariste Ndayishimiye, spoke about the meeting's objective of unifying efforts among African nations and advancing continental integration by achieving the goals of Agenda 2063. He stressed the importance of managing African resources in solidarity and collaboration with African countries, asserting that the success of regional integration depends on an economic consensus among African nations.

Ndayishimiye also highlighted the AU's efforts to achieve stability in Africa to mitigate geopolitical tensions in the global political landscape and address challenges related to the peace architecture that impact regional integration in Africa.