UK (Commonwealth Union)_ The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, Commonwealth Secretary-General, attended the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) in Ethiopia, which concluded on February 20, 2024. Her attendance at this summit, alongside African heads of state, political leaders, and policymakers, aimed to facilitate discussions on various critical issues confronting the continent, including peace and security, regional integration, education, and development.
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With the overarching theme of ‘Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa’, the sessions delved into topics such as the AU Kagame reforms, AU Agenda 2063 implementation, State of Peace and Security Report, and Climate Change Committee Report, among others.
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Hosted by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), HE Moussa Faki Mahamat, the three-day event in Addis Ababa sought to foster collaboration among political leaders to address the pressing security issues and conflicts in certain member states of the AU. Additionally, it also aimed to provide recommendations for managing crises innovatively and sustainably to restore peace in the affected regions.
During the summit, Secretary-General Scotland also engaged in discussions concerning the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Agenda, the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH), and the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) slated for October 2024 in Samoa, with the theme ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth’.
Expressing gratitude for the invitation, Secretary-General Scotland emphasized the importance of collective efforts in tackling the challenges facing the continent, particularly as preparations for CHOGM progress. She stated, “I am grateful for this invitation to be here with my brother and sisters of the African Union, and to hear about the issues that the continent is facing and the solutions that we are considering. As we move towards the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in October, it is even more important that we begin to discuss how we can have more resilient economies, governance structures, and societies that empower our people.”
The Secretary-General also stressed the necessity of fostering inclusive and sustainable progress, ensuring that no individual is left behind, and highlighted the significance of unity in achieving these goals. She added, “Inclusive and sustainable progress, where no one left behind, is vitally important. We must take bold steps if we are to create a future for the billions of young people in the region. However, we must also bring them together. Our unity is our strength.”
Furthermore, she shared insights into the Secretariat’s initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of climate change on the 48 small island states, 37 of which are members of the Commonwealth, underscoring the relevance of Commonwealth membership in addressing shared challenges and advancing mutual prosperity. With twenty-one African countries being Commonwealth members, the collaboration extends beyond historical ties, driven by a shared vision and values. The member states stand to benefit from Commonwealth initiatives spanning peace and democracy, anti-corruption efforts, education, artificial intelligence, connectivity, and youth empowerment, all geared towards fostering a prosperous future across the Commonwealth, including the African region.
Major discussion subjects at the AU Summit encompassed trade, economic development, institutional reforms, education, skills training, agriculture, climate change, human rights, gender, and youth empowerment. During her stay in Addis Ababa, Secretary-General Scotland also engaged with government ministers, senior officials, youth representatives, civil society, and other stakeholders to explore avenues for deepening partnerships and cooperation, underscoring the commitment to advancing common objectives and addressing shared challenges.
