ADDIS ABABA: Ambassador Youssouf Mandoha Assoumani of Comoros, currently the chair of the African Union (AU), emphasized the necessity for Africa to achieve economic liberation and independently address its problems. This statement was made during the 36th AU summit, where President Azali Assoumani of Comoros assumed the chairmanship.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, he praised Ethiopia for its bold decision to resolve the conflict in the northern part of the country, calling it a striking example of African problem-solving. The Ethiopian government's recent statement on the first anniversary of the "Agreement For Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities" affirmed its commitment to implementing the agreement with various trust-building and peace-consolidating measures.
Ambassador Assoumani reiterated the importance of African solutions to African problems and congratulated Ethiopia on its efforts to resolve conflict with fellow Africans. He stressed the need for strengthened partnerships among African countries to solve continent-wide issues. The AU is working on harmonizing rights and laws across African nations to establish common positions on various issues, including climate justice.
The ambassador also highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA), one of the AU's flagship projects, as a crucial step towards economic independence. Agenda 2063 and AFCTA are seen as pivotal initiatives for achieving economic freedom. The construction of road infrastructures and efforts to silence guns are also contributing to the continent's liberation from economic dependence. Assoumani noted that AFCTA will enhance trade and circulation of goods and services between African countries, representing a significant opportunity for the continent.