President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday participated in the plenary of the 8th African Union (AU) Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in his capacity as Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The meeting, held in El-Alamein, Egypt, brought together African leaders to discuss key continental priorities. These priorities include strengthening regional integration, advancing the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and addressing peace and security challenges across the continent.
The meeting aimed to review progress in implementing the division of labour between the African Union, Regional Economic Communities, and Member States. It also sought to strengthen peace, security, and economic cooperation across the continent. According to the Presidency, the meeting would discuss efforts to harmonize continental frameworks and instruments. The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, emphasized the need for Africa to deepen its collective reflection and strengthen its capacity to respond to challenges affecting peace, security, stability, and socio-economic development.
Youssouf stressed that while important progress has been made, institutional operational obstacles continue to constrain regional and continental integration. He called for renewed political commitment, stronger coordination, and effective implementation of continental frameworks and instruments. A clearer division of labour between the Union, Regional Economic Communities, and Regional Mechanisms is essential, based on solidarity, complementarity, and comparative advantage.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of Egypt welcomed African leaders and delegations to Egypt, stressing the importance of strengthening coordination between the AU, Regional Economic Communities, and Regional Mechanisms. He emphasized that coordination must serve a practical purpose: moving Africa from fragmented efforts towards greater integration and from shared aspirations towards concrete, implementable projects that deliver tangible benefits to African peoples.
On the margins of the meeting, President Ramaphosa held bilateral meetings with Chairperson Youssouf and President El-Sisi. These engagements provided opportunities for the leaders to discuss issues of mutual interest, strengthen cooperation, and reaffirm the importance of bilateral cooperation. The meetings also explored areas of shared interest within the broader context of African development and regional collaboration.
The AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting remains a critical platform for strengthening cooperation between the AU, Regional Economic Communities, and Regional Mechanisms. It aims to harmonize efforts towards implementing Africa's continental integration agenda, particularly in the context of a complex and rapidly changing global geopolitical environment. The meeting also highlighted the importance of strengthening Africa's financial architecture and mobilizing predictable, sustainable, and sufficient resources for implementing Agenda 2063.
The President's participation in the meeting demonstrates South Africa's commitment to continental integration and cooperation. It also underscores the importance of regional collaboration in addressing common challenges and promoting socio-economic development across the continent. The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening peace, security, and economic cooperation among African nations.
Key points
- President Cyril Ramaphosa participates in the 8th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Egypt as Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community.
- The meeting aims to strengthen regional integration, advance the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and address peace and security challenges across the continent.
- The AU Commission Chairperson emphasizes the need for renewed political commitment, stronger coordination, and effective implementation of continental frameworks and instruments.
