Nairobi, Kenya – On July 16, 2023, the Kenyan capital is hosting the 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, a major gathering that brings together African leaders to discuss continental integration in Africa and advancing the agenda of the African Union (AU). This meeting promises to be a key moment to take stock of the progress made and to define the actions to come.
The opening of the meeting will be solemn, with the resounding AU anthem and opening speeches delivered by high profile personalities, including the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the President of the Kenya, William Ruto, and United Nations Under-Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed. The President of the Union of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, as current Chairman of the AU, will also play a key role in his speech.
At the heart of the discussions, the state of continental integration in Africa will be a central point to assess the progress and challenges encountered so far. The report of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, will provide a detailed assessment of the progress made and highlight the persistent challenges. The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a key pillar of economic integration, will also be at the center of discussions with the report of the AU Champion for this project, Mahamadou Issoufou.
The leaders of the various Regional Economic Communities (RECs) will then present their vision of regional integration in their respective regions. Each will shed light on the progress and the specific challenges encountered, thus offering a global perspective of the situation in Africa. We can expect striking speeches from leaders such as the President of the Republic of Chad and President of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), Mahamat Idriss Deby, the President of the Republic of Zambia and President of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Hakainde Hichilema, and many others.
Coordination between Member States, RECs and the AU will also be at the center of the discussions, with a detailed report on the division of labor presented. The objective will be to improve coordination and cooperation between these different entities to promote a more fluid and coherent integration.
A significant part of the meeting will be devoted to the success stories of the AU and the RECs in the area of integration. Case studies will be presented to highlight successful initiatives and best practices in consolidating regional and continental integration. These concrete examples will share lessons learned and stimulate future projects.
Environmental challenges, climate change and blue economy in Africa will also feature prominently.. Leaders will discuss challenges and opportunities related to these areas, with a focus on initiatives to promote sustainable and resilient development. The presence of the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, as President of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, adds an international dimension to these exchanges.
Finally, the meeting will address the issue of the Ukraine-Russia peacekeeping mission. The Presidents of the Union of Comoros, Azali Assoumani, and of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, will share the latest developments of this peace mission and underline the importance of regional stability.
In conclusion, the 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Nairobi will be an opportunity for African leaders to take stock of continental integration in Africa and set out actions ahead. Discussions will focus on the state of integration, AfCFTA implementation, coordination between regional and continental entities, past successes, environmental challenges and the issue of the Ukraine-Russia peacekeeping mission