The President stated this today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia while addressing leaders at the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

He said his administration will engage the African Union Commission in collaboration with member states to ensure that the bank takes off as scheduled in 2028.

According to him, Africa’s success in conclusively addressing its challenges hinges on the firmness of its resolution, built on a foundation of deep-rooted solidarity, if it is to avoid perpetuating existing problems and creating new ones.

He also weighed in on the military takeovers in the Republics of Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, and the exit of three of these nations from the regional bloc – the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The President said disagreements over the unconstitutional changes of government should not mean a permanent rupture of the abiding lines of regional affinity and cooperation.

 

In another Scene…

African Union Commission has decried the violence bedeviling many nations, both in the continent and other parts of the world.

This concern was expressed on Saturday by the Head of the commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, ahead of a two-day summit on Saturday as the continent wrestles with coups, conflicts, political crises and regional tensions.

Speaking at the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, Faki specifically mentioned the fact that Sudan was in “flames” while also highlighting the Jihadist threat in Somalia and eternal tensions in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

His worries which also included the “terrorist danger” in the Sahel, and constant instability in Libya were laid bare a day after a mini-summit aimed to re-launch the peace process for the Democratic Republic of Congo

The pan-African body has so far had “very little influence on countries that have suffered recent coups.

Among those attending from outside of Africa is Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Gabon and Niger will be absent from the summit following their suspension over coups last year — joining the likes of Mali, Guinea, Sudan and Burkina Faso, which are also barred.

The crisis in Senegal, set off by President Macky Sall’s last-minute move to push back this month’s elections is expected to be a part of discussions at the summit.