The African Union summit marked by emergency issues at the African level including the Covid-19 pandemic and security

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The 34th summit of the organization ended this Sunday, February 7, in a particular health context. 

The 34th African Union summit ended on Sunday February 6, after two days of meetings. A somewhat particular summit since it was online, the Covid-19 pandemic requires. Félix Tshisekedi, the Congolese leader, holds the presidency of the AU for one year. 

Moussa Faki was also re-elected president of the AU Commission, the executive body of the institution, for four years. And the heads of state returned to several important issues of the continent and the organization.

This summit allowed the continuation of the implementation of the AU reform, Kagamé reform, and the passage to six commissioners instead of eight. Political affairs, and the peace and security department are now linked. What first of all to give hope for a less dispersed Commission. "The reorganization of the African Union Commission can provide the beginnings of a solution," said Seidick Abba, a journalist who follows in particular all issues related to the continental organization. “Until now, there was a kind of overlap between the political department and the peace and security department. So if there is now political will and better coordination between the regional economic communities, I think that 'we can find African solutions to African crises. "

About Covid-19, The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke at length in his opening speech on Saturday. Many heads of state also praised the collaboration and coordination on the continent since the start of the crisis. A coordination that must go even further for Félix Tshisekedi. "We have decided on the actions to be taken, such as the effective implementation of the common continental strategy, the strengthening of the African fund for Covid-19, an African platform for the acquisition of medical equipment and the acceleration of Covid tests" , he said. 

On Saturday, the outgoing president of the African Union also called on the International Monetary Fund to release new resources to correct "the blatant inequality of fiscal stimulus measures between advanced economies and the rest of the world".

The security issue was also on the summit's menu. "The proliferation of local and foreign armed groups, as well as the rise of terrorist groups, in Central Africa, in the Sahelian zone, as well as in the south of the continent, constitutes a real threat to peace, security and stability of the continent, "insisted Felix Tshisekedi. "It emerged from this the need to eradicate these phenomena". For this, the AU wants to rely on the development of trade and the economy in particular. She welcomed the establishment of the African continental free trade area, the Zlecaf. 

The heads of state also talked a little about culture. "Arts, culture, heritage" is the theme of the year 2021 of the AU.

Malian transitional president Bah Ndaw has asked AU member states to devote at least one percent of their budget to this area by 2030. That's a lot in context, experts say. Especially since the need to strengthen the health sector on the continent was also mentioned. "We will have to act with action and efficiency", concluded Félix Tshisekedi on Sunday afternoon.

Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Editor

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