The African Union has postponed the two Extra-Ordinary Summits that were scheduled to tackle matters related to the African Continental Free Trade Area and Silencing of the Guns by 2020.
The two summits that were scheduled to be held simultaneously in South Africa on 30th May, 2020 have been moved to 5th December 2020 due to the novel coronavirus.
Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union Emmanuel Mwamba confirmed the development and said the new dates that have been proposed were also contingent on the behavior of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Mwamba said also affected, was the implementation of the commencement of actual trading under the AfCFTA that was due to start on 1st July but has been moved to 1st January 2021.
He said it was however hopeful, that the postponement of the summits would not derail the acceleration of intra-Africa trade and economic integration.
On silencing the guns, Mr. Mwamba said the AU seeks to find peace to conflict-affected areas as no meaningful development could be achieved in Africa in the absence of peace.
Mr. Mwamba said the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has seen many programmes at the AU being suspended and meetings being held through teleconferencing facilities.
This is contained in a statement issued to the media by Press Secretary at the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia Inutu Mwanza.
These lazy African leaders are not inspiring at all. We miss the Iikes of Kwame Nkurumah, Haile Salassie, Kaunda, Nyerere and Gaddafis of rhe easter years. The current ones are self centered very useless. Why can’t join through teleconference?
Massive savings on Jet fuel. No need to postpone. Let them use skype or zoom call.
The AU in it’s present state is just as good as non-existent. Too divided hence too weak. The best example is the inability to support African efforts to deal with the pandemic as with the Madagascar cure. The African CDC was quick to discredit it and now South Africa is unilaterally offering support to develop the cure.
Why not teleconference? After all, they just go there to read written speeches
Useless summit…point at one important thing that has come out of these nonsensical summit…just old lazy men sleeping with under age girls….and wives cheating on their husbands during these summits…and wasting tax payers money for traveling and accommodation for the Bandit entourages….all African leaders are full of shiiiiit…they live in ultra luxury whilst their citizens live in poverty…i have no kind words for Politicians
The African Union and SADC serve no purpose at all. Should be disbanded.
Member states are virtually surviving and resolving issues on their own.
Both organizations are only good at declaring fraudulent elections as free and fair and protecting African despots.
WHAT DO THESE SUMMITS ACHIEVE TO IMPROVE THE LOT OF THE POOR IN AFRICA. ZERO
Someone in the know please tell me, wht does the AU do? You see, u can join any number of flat tyres say 50 but they can’t give u the performance of 2 inflated ones. There was a time whn I was hoping I would one day join politics. I hv since stopped hoping and now hv decided that it would be a waste of time.
Just as well since our humble leader ECL would not have been able to attend as he is currently hiding from covid 19.