BY HAILE DEMEKE
ADDIS ABABA – The speedy implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is the top agenda that African leaders will convey at this year’s Summit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) disclosed.
At a weekly briefing he held here yesterday, MoFA Spokesperson Ambassador Meles Alem stated that the leaders will deliberate on the speedy execution of the agreement that is expected to create an integrated intra-Africa market. The AfCFTA is also believed to foster the free movement of people and goods in the continent.
Noting the theme of this year’s summit is “Acceleration of AfCFTA implementation,” the spokesperson indicated that African leaders are expected to pass viable resolutions that will translate the agreement into reality.
Various African countries are in different phases of ratifying the agreement and they have recruited workers and conducted other necessary activities that will facilitate the implementation of the continental pact. It is to be recalled that African leaders decided Accra, Ghana to be the seat of the AfCFTA Secretariat.
Meles further stated that high-level delegations from 51 countries including 35 heads of states, 11 foreign affairs ministers, 13 first ladies, four prime ministers and 10 heads of various international organizations including the UN are expected to attend the summit. Moreover, high-level delegations and deputy presidents from six non-AU states will take part in the gathering.
Apart from the vigilant preparation for the successful conduct of the Summit, the Ethiopian government aims to capitalize on the gathering to forge strong diplomatic ties with countries from four corners of the globe. To this, the country will conduct different bilateral and multilateral discussions on the sidelines of the main event.
Ethiopia will also host another event under the theme “Reinvigorating Pan Africanism in the Changing World.” Comorian President AzaliAssoumani is expected to become this year’s AU Chairperson and take the role from Senegalese President MackySall, he remarked.
While the 42nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council (Ministerial Session)will be held from February 15-16, the 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit (Heads of States and Government session) will take place from 18 to 19 February in Addis Ababa.
The Ethiopian Herald February 15/2023
