Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi will take part in the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5th MYCM) of the African Union (AU), which will be held on 16th July 2023, in Nairobi, Kenya, and bring together Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Mechanism (RMs) and member states.
The president is due to give a speech to outline Egypt’s plan in light of its chairmanship of the steering committee of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) heads of state during the coming two years.
Sisi, in his capacity as the president of the Climate Change Conference (COP27) summit that was held late last year in Sharm El Sheikh, will also highlight Egypt’s efforts in the face of climate change and its impacts on African countries.
The president will discuss with the African heads of state the progress made so far in the trade integration program among African countries and means to support the continental integration steps topped by the freedom of travel, a unified African passport and connecting African financial markets and infrastructure.
The AU mid-year meeting in Nairobi will focus on boosting continental integration during its fifth MYCM set for 16 July, said a statement issued by AU.
The MYCM was conceptualized in 2017 as the principal forum for the AU and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to align their work and coordinate the implementation of the continental integration agenda, replacing the June/ July summits.
The meeting will explore ways to enhance integration, including promoting free movement and the African passport, as well as connecting infrastructure and financial markets.
It will also explore establishing a common African market to accelerate trade, agriculture, establishment of businesses, and transfer of skills in Africa, added the statement.
To accelerate these efforts, the meeting will discuss the division of labor between the AU, RECs, RMs, and member states, anchored on the principles of subsidiarity, complementary, and competitive advantage.
The division of labor is centered around six pillars: policy planning and formulation; policy adoption; policy implementation; monitoring, evaluation and reporting; resource mobilization; and partnerships.
Also on the agenda will be the financing of Agenda 2063, focusing on Africa’s economic recovery and the implementation of initiatives to address challenges in agriculture, infrastructure, debt, climate change, security, energy, and health.
The meeting will conclude with a declaration.
