By Johnathan Paoli
President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated the newly elected African Union (AU) officials while stressing that ongoing discussions and decisions, including silencing the guns, remain crucial to the continent’s future.
Ramaphosa attended the 38th Ordinary Session of the AU Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The summit, themed “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” brought together African leaders to address key issues, including peace, security, economic development, and governance.
SA continues to play a key role in peacekeeping and mediation efforts across the African continent.
The country is involved in the AU High-Level Committees on South Sudan and Libya and has also deployed troops as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) mission in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“We are very pleased with the outcomes that were made at the summit, election of the new leadership of the AU…this is a very good outcome for us Africa, we are consolidating the AU to ensure that it continues to unite the continent. We are going to continue to see progress with the discussions that will go on, because we did not only come here for elections. We came for real discussions and decisions,” Ramaphosa said.
During the summit, African leaders elected Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Djibouti’s long-serving foreign minister, as the new chairperson of the African AU Commission.
Youssouf succeeds Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad, who has held the position since 2017.
Selma Malika Haddadi, Algeria’s ambassador to Addis Ababa and Permanent Representative to the AU, was elected Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission.
As Deputy Chairperson, Haddadi will assist the Chairperson in managing the organisation’s administrative and financial affairs. She will also be responsible for assuming the duties of the Chairperson in their absence.
Ramaphosa also welcomed the appointment of new AU Commissioners tasked with advancing the organisation’s goals.
Of particular significance to South Africa was the appointment of Lerato Mataboge as the new AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy.
Ramaphosa expressed pride in her selection, emphasising that South Africa remains committed to supporting AU initiatives aimed at improving the continent’s infrastructure and energy security.
One of the major discussions at the summit centered on the state of peace and security in Africa, with particular concern over the escalating conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The AU Assembly has called on the M23 rebel group to cease hostilities immediately, warning of further loss of life and humanitarian consequences if violence continues.
The summit reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to resolving conflicts through inclusive negotiations and political dialogue.
Leaders emphasised that diplomatic engagement remains the only viable solution to end ongoing conflicts across the continent, and they urged all parties involved to work towards lasting peace.
South Africa’s recent assumption of the G20 Presidency was another key highlight of the summit.
As the first African nation to lead the G20, South Africa’s role was praised by AU leaders, who pledged their support for a successful G20 Leaders Summit later this year in Johannesburg.
The AU Assembly acknowledged the importance of this milestone, emphasising that it presents a crucial opportunity to advance Africa’s priorities on the global stage, including economic development, climate change, and fair trade policies.
During his visit, Ramaphosa also held a series of bilateral meetings with fellow African leaders to discuss issues of mutual concern.
These engagements focused on strengthening diplomatic ties, enhancing trade relations, and fostering regional cooperation in critical sectors such as energy, health, and infrastructure.
The AU Assembly will continue its discussions on Sunday, with topics including the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, progress made by the Africa Centre for Disease Control, infrastructure development, and institutional reforms aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the AU.
As the summit progressed, Ramaphosa reiterated South Africa’s commitment to playing an active role in the AU’s initiatives.
He emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among African nations to tackle pressing challenges such as economic inequality, public health crises, and regional conflicts.
Ramaphosa also reaffirmed South Africa’s dedication to the objectives of the AU’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a prosperous, peaceful, and self-sustaining Africa driven by innovation, good governance, and sustainable development.
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