The 27th African Union Summit came to a successful conclusion on Monday 18 July 2016, with Heads of State and Government from AU Member countries making a common call for togetherness, inclusive growth and economic development through Agenda 2063.

The Heads of State also adopted recommendations of the retreat on financing the Union, which seeks to empower the Union by driving it towards financial independence and from external influences.

H.E Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma presented the Gender Scorecards in various categories ranging from socio-economic and political performance to development at national level. Rwanda, Algeria, South Africa and Tunisia were awarded honorific prizes in recognition of their outstanding efforts in the promotion of women rights and gender equality.

According to the AUC Chairperson, almost all AU Member States have achieved at least one of the AU gender-related goals, such as promotion of health, education, employment and social welfare of women in their countries.

“African countries should maintain this spirit of togetherness and start working together on action plans to foster economic development for the entire continent. This Summit has indicated that we can achieve great things and overcome all challenges if we work in unity,” said Dr. Dlamini Zuma.

H.E. Mr. Idriss Deby Itno, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) and President of the Republic of Chad, also called on African States to focus on implementing Agenda 2063, as well as to reaffirm their commitment to the principle of gender equality as enshrined in Article 4 (l) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union.

“Our commitment to develop the continent and make it independent must continue. As we go forward, we should learn from one another and accelerate efforts to promote gender equality at all levels. We can all learn from success stories, such as that of Rwanda our host, to build on the progress that we have achieved in addressing issues of major concern to the women of Africa,” underlined the AU Chair.

“Major challenges and obstacles to gender equality still remain, however, and require concerted and collective leadership and efforts from all of us including networks working on gender and development. We should be always aware of the fact that low levels of women’s representation in social, economic and political decision-making structures have a negative impact on women’s ability to derive full benefit from the economies of their countries and the democratisation process”.

H.E. the President Paul Kagame of Rwanda also called for full and effective participation and representation of women in peace processes including the prevention, resolution, management of conflicts and post-conflict reconstruction.

“We cannot run away from our responsibility. We have to fulfil them the best way we can. We as leaders are obliged to work together, as foot soldiers to reinforce mechanisms that will protect women at the national level and end impunity of crimes committed against women in a manner that will benefit the African society,” underscored the Rwandan President.

Election of AU Commissioners, Postponed

The much awaited elections of the new Chairperson of the African Union Commission has been postponed to January 2016 after no contender gathered the required two-thirds of the votes, as stipulated in the AU Constitutive Act. The current Chairperson of the AUC, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and her team have been requested by the AU Heads of State and Government at the close of the 27th AU Summit in Kigali, to continue their work until January 2017 when the next Summit will hold at the Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The three candidates in the race were: the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana, Dr. Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi; the Foreign Affairs Minister of Equatorial Guinea, Mr. Agapito Mba Mokuy, and the former Vice President of Uganda, Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe.

The 27th AU Summit ended at the Kigali Convention Centre with a press conference addressed by the Chairperson of the AU, H.E. Mr. Idriss Deby Itno, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and the President of Rwanda, host country of the Summit, H.E. Mr. Paul Kagame.