The leaders of Africa’s 55 countries are meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, 17-21 March 2018, to sign an agreement that will launch the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), according to the African Union
KIGALI, Rwanda (AU)–“I am once again honored to address the Permanent Representatives’ Committee, the linchpin of the African Union, on the occasion of preparations for the Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly convened for the purpose of executing the decision taken by our Heads of State and Government to lend a strong impetus to the implementation of one of our flagship projects, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) ”, said H.E Thomas Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), during the opening ceremony of the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) meeting today at the Kigali Convention Center.
Hosted by the Republic of Rwanda, the event is holding within the framework of the Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in the presence of the AU Commissioners, Representatives of the AU Organs and partner Organizations, the RECs, the UN Agencies and invited guests.
Speaking on behalf of the H. E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission, Deputy Chairperson, Kwesi Quartey, began by expressing his admiration for the city of Kigali, which he described as “a welcoming beautiful and resplendent city…. This time, however, it has enhanced its splendor in a bid to provide us with a suitable working environment, commensurate with the issues that bring us here”.
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“This therefore is an opportunity for me to express the gratitude of the African Union Commission to H.E. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda and Chairperson of the African Union, for his commitment and determination to contribute, with his peers, to placing Africa on a path of greater self-assertion on the international stage. I would also like to thank the Government and the Rwandan people for their fraternal welcome”, reiterated H.E Kwesi Quartey.
The AUC Deputy Chairperson stressed that, the Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union on the AfCFTA is timely as it is a strong political symbolism that, “Africa is taking charge of itself and her voice should resonate, from a position of strength that is rooted in the effective implementation of projects of continental dimension that contribute to its development and especially to the consolidation of its integration and unity”. He underlined that, as a key organ responsible for starting the decision-making process within the African Union, the PRC has the heavy duty of laying the groundwork, through the preliminary consideration of all working documents so as to provide the Executive Council with guidance on the way forward in the consideration of matters to be submitted to the Heads of State and Government.
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