STORY: African FMs start meeting in framework of AU summit
SHOOTING TIME: Feb. 14, 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 15, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:27
LOCATION: Addis Ababa
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of headquarters of the AU
2. various of the session
3. SOUNDBITE (English interpretation): MOUSSA FAKI MAHAMAT, Chairperson of the AU Commission

STORYLINE:

The 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) began Wednesday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, with a call for increasing efforts to ensure continental stability and quality education in Africa.
   
The two-day meeting, comprising foreign ministers from AU member states, is being held under the AU's theme of the year for 2024 "Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa."
   
Addressing the executive council meeting, the Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat underscored the need to exert concerted efforts towards ensuring continental peace and security, socioeconomic development, sustainable financing of the AU as well as strengthening the global multilateral system.

SOUNDBITE (English interpretation): MOUSSA FAKI MAHAMAT, Chairperson of the AU Commission 
"It is accepted that in terms of principles that Africa must hope its peace and security and its sensible government count first and foremost, on its own strength, its own genius, its own chain of solidarity, no one can deny the relevance at this stage of our evolution, and all the need for mutually beneficial partnership with others."
   
Recalling the positive achievements and gaps marked in the first-decade implementation of the AU's 50-year continental development blueprint, Agenda 2063, Faki underscored the need to exert collective efforts towards realizing the major aspirations of the AU as the pan-African bloc embarked on the second decade of its continental blueprint.
   
"The resurgence of military coups, pre- and post-electoral violence, humanitarian crises linked to war and the effects of climate change, are all very serious sources of concern for us. They seriously threaten to obliterate the signs of the emergence of Africa, of which we are proud," Faki told the African foreign ministers.

Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Taye Atske Selassie said the AU theme of the year "resonates deeply with the expectation of people across our continent for progress and development." He stressed the urgent need to build a resilient education system in Africa towards availing increased access to education and promoting quality inclusive education.
   
Selassie further underscored the importance of AU's participation in G20 as well as Ethiopia's recent membership into the BRICS mechanism to advance Africa's position on the global stage.
   
Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Claver Gatete noted the crucial impetus to enhance investment in education, promote Africa's global competitiveness in education, create a competitive education system with emphasis on digital transformation and innovation, as well as boost science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics in Africa in line with the job market.
   
"Education is a basic human right and a key enabler for achieving our collective socioeconomic objectives. When we fail to provide accessible and inclusive education, we deny people this right," he said.
   
Dhoihir Dhoulkamal, minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Comoros and the chairperson of the AU Executive Council for 2023, called for strengthening continental socioeconomic integration, and togetherness against terrorism and extremism.
   
Noting the current global uncertainties and their impact on Africa, Dhoulkamal called for promoting Africa's unity in responding to global uncertainties and towards creating continental resilience against the adverse effects of climate change.
   
The AU Executive Council meeting will be followed by the 37th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of the Heads of State and Government, which is slated to be held from Feb. 17 to 18.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Addis Ababa.
(XHTV)