President Ramaphosa to Participate at the 37th African Union Heads of State and Government Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa has embarked on a significant journey today, February 16, 2024, as he arrives in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to attend the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU). The summit is scheduled to take place between February 17 and 18, 2024.

Under the theme, “Educate an Africa fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa,” the AU Assembly is set to address critical issues concerning education and its pivotal role in shaping Africa’s future.

Preceding the AU Assembly was the 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, held on February 14 and 15, 2024, setting the stage for the discussions and deliberations to follow.

President Ramaphosa is accompanied by a delegation of Ministers, representing various key sectors including International Relations and Cooperation, Trade Industry and Competition, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Public Service and Administration, Basic Education, and Fisheries, Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Central to the agenda of the Assembly is the discourse on peace and security across the continent, with a particular focus on the report of the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC). The ongoing concerns regarding peace and security in certain regions of Africa provide a critical backdrop to these discussions.

A pivotal moment of the 37th Ordinary Session will be the launch of the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of the AU’s Agenda 2063: “The Africa we want.” Agenda 2063 stands as a comprehensive roadmap for Africa’s socio-economic development and integration, crafted through extensive consultations across the continent.

South Africa, under President Ramaphosa’s leadership, has prioritized the implementation of Agenda 2063, underscoring its commitment to advancing the African agenda.

Of note is South Africa’s leading role in the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), a flagship project of Agenda 2063. The AfCFTA marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the AU, aiming to bolster intra-African trade and economic cooperation.

Throughout the summit, South Africa is expected to engage actively in various high-level committee meetings, including the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), the Presidential Dialogue on Africa’s Agenda for Reform of the Global Financial Architecture, and the Peace and Security Situation in the Eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of Congo Summit.

In his capacity as the Champion of the AU’s COVID-19 response, President Ramaphosa will present a comprehensive report on the progress made in combating the pandemic across Africa, highlighting collective efforts and strategies moving forward.

As President Ramaphosa joins fellow African leaders at the 37th AU Summit, the eyes of the continent are set on the outcomes and resolutions that will shape Africa’s trajectory in the years to come.