. Institutional reform, continental free trade to be top in the list
ADDIS ABABA– A Nationwide Joint Security Task Force established to make successful the upcoming 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union has been working in full swing.
In a statement, Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Melaku Fanta said the National Task Force comprises members drawn from Federal Police, Addis Ababa Police, Defense Forces, National Intelligence and Security Service as well as Oromia Police.
The Force has made training that involved air force around Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, AU Headquarters, Sheraton Addis and VIP thoroughfares, according to Deputy Commissioner Zelalem Mengiste, Addis Ababa Police Commission Crime and Traffic Accidents Prevention Unit Head.
All peace-loving citizens have also been called on to exert everything at their disposal to make the Summit successful. Meanwhile, AU institutional reforms and the operationalization of the African continental free trade agreement (AfCFTA) will be on top of the agenda of the Summit, it was learnt.
In the same way, ambassadors of the African Union member states and officials of the 55-member pan-African alliance are likely to put heads together regarding draft reports and prepare the agenda for the 36th ordinary session of the AU Executive Council encompassing foreign ministers of member states, programmed to come to pass for the period of February 6-7.
Earlier, the 39th ordinary session of the African Union (AU) Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa held a two-day session under the Union’s 2020 theme: “Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development.”
The Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission, Kwesi Quartey confirmed his Commission’s commitment to working with the PRC to give full measure to the anticipated cooperation and synergy.
“We need to keep up advancing on the budgetary processes and concentrate on putting our vision into the practice of Agenda 2063. We should make every effort to make use of this opportunity to smooth the progress of collaboration between the PRC and the Commission,” he said.
The decision mandates the chairperson of the AU Commission to develop a new departmental structure that is lean and performance-oriented taking into consideration the division of labor between AU, regional economic communities (RECs) and regional mechanisms, member states, and continental organizations.
The Deputy Chairperson said that based on initial discussions, member states should make their mind first that restructuring proposals should be budget neutral.
The Ethiopian Herald Friday Edition, February 7/2020
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
