The 27th African Union (AU) Heads of State summit officially opened in Kigali on Sunday with a call for leaders to identify the right priorities and outcomes, decide the best way to achieve them, and be ready to do just that in a move to ensure sustainable growth and continental integration.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame stressed that the tissue of brotherhood and sisterhood [among Africans] cannot be amputated by lines drawn on a map in another century.
“We meet here as the African Union to discuss serious business, beginning with the focus on the rights of Africa’s women. This matter is on the agenda for good reason. If men and women do not stand in solidarity, then we are going to come up short across the board,” the Rwandan leader said.
While hailing some good ideas that were discussed in another session that focused on financing the African Union (AU), the Rwandan leader insisted that [African governments] should be the ones to pay for activities in which everyone has a stake.
“This puts responsibility and ownership in our hands. We are capable of it, and we were shown how to do so, and I urge us to move forward with the required political will, without delay,” the Rwandan leader said, amid applause.
According to him, partnerships produce benefits that flow equitably to all parties, [especially] when everyone involved has clearly defined their respective interests, objectives, and capabilities.
While addressing participants including around 50 African Heads of States and Government, President Kagame also stressed that Unity is not a feel-good slogan. “It is a tool for delivering real results in the lives of Africans. Every item on our agenda comes back to them,” he said.
During the official opening session of the summit, the Chairperson of the AU, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma presented the first ever African Passport to the Chair of the African Union, President Idriss Deby and to his counterpart of the Host summit, President Paul Kagame.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr Dlamini Zuma suggested that Member states issue the African Passport to their citizens, within their national policies as it was suggested during a previous AU summit that took place in January this year.
“We have been overwhelmed by the wishes of other Ministers, officials and African citizens to share in this privilege,” the outgoing AU Chairperson said.
It was expected that during the summit, participants will discuss long-term strategies for the continent to take charge of its transformation, including the financing of its development.
“We did not realize our power, but instead relied on donors, that we euphemistically called partners,” Dr Dlamini Zuma noted.
