By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The African Union Executive
Council has commenced its 49th Ordinary Session with ministers considering a
roadmap that aims to leverage the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM)
and emerging technologies to accelerate continental integration.
The two-day meeting, which
opened on 28 July at the Nelson Mandela Hall in Addis Ababa, has brought
together Ministers of Foreign Affairs from AU member states under the
chairpersonship of the Republic of Burundi.
A key item before the
Council is the Draft Decision on the Roadmap for the African Union’s 2027 Theme
of the Year, titled “AU at the Dawn of its 25th Anniversary: Leveraging the
Full Potential of SAATM and New Technologies for Continental Integration.”
The roadmap, prepared by the
African Union Commission’s Department of Infrastructure and Energy, was
previously presented to the Permanent Representatives’ Committee in June and is
now before ministers for consideration and adoption.
African Union Commissioner
for Infrastructure and Energy, H.E. Lerato D. Mataboge, is participating in the
session as ministers deliberate on the proposed framework.
The roadmap seeks to harness
the Single African Air Transport Market alongside emerging digital technologies
to strengthen regional connectivity, facilitate economic integration and
support the implementation of Agenda 2063 and its Second Ten-Year Implementation
Plan.
The Executive Council is
expected to conclude its deliberations on 29 July, with ministers set to adopt
a series of decisions, including the proposed 2027 Theme of the Year roadmap,
aimed at advancing Africa’s long-term development and integration agenda.
