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African Union envoys meet ahead of summit

Xinhua, January 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

The 29th ordinary session of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) of the African Union (AU) kicked off on Friday at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The meeting in the framework of the 24th AU summit has been opened with a call for action towards women empowerment.

The PRC session kicked off against the backdrop of discussions to launch 2015 as the "Year of Women's Empowerment and Development towards Africa's Agenda 2063", which is the theme of the 24th AU Summit scheduled for January 30-31.

Speaking at the opening of the two-day meeting, Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission, highlighted that the time has come for Africa to move in one direction to put the continent on solid grounds in its urge for success as a united, integrated and prosperous continent at peace with itself.

Given the different challenges Africa is facing today, Mwencha said time has come for Africa to move from speeches to action, thus the need to effectively launch the Africa Agenda 2063.

He called on all Africans to be part of the process of change.

By establishing the African Support to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASWEOWA), the continent has demonstrated its capacity to mobilize and stand as one to protect the African continent from the devastating Ebola crisis that has caused the death of thousands of citizens, said the Deputy Chairperson.

"There is much to do and no more time to waste... We need to have courage and political will to do great things," said Mwencha.

Chairing the meeting, Hamadi Meimoun, Ambassador of Mauritania, said "We are aware of the different problems we are facing and we know what to do to take up these challenges."

Lauding the existing good working relationship between the AU Commission and the PRC, the Ambassador underscored the need for the cooperation to be strengthened so as to help Africa overcome all the different socioeconomic challenges it is facing.

He stressed on the necessity to build a secure environment in Africa to enable the successful fulfillment of the objectives of the Agenda 2063.

"Without security there is no peace and without peace there is no development," he noted.

He stated that a peaceful environment would ease the constant struggle against poverty, marginalization and unemployment.

The PRC will for two days deliberate and submit their report to the Executive Council who will be meeting at their 26th ordinary session on January 26-27 for consideration and adoption. Endi