Foreign
By Kennedy Nnamani
THE United States and the African Union Commission, AUC, have reaffirmed strong collaboration and commitment to address issues affecting the world. This was contained in the media note from the office of Ned Price, on the eighth annual U.S.-AUC High-Level Dialogue by the U.S spokesperson on March 12, 2022.
In the statement, Antony Blinken, U.S Secretary of State and Moussa Faki Mahamat, AUC Head of Delegation Chairperson jointly assured of their mutual interests and shared values to solving issues relating to health security, climate change, economic growth, and peace, security, and governance.
According to the statement, the U.S-AUC is to partner U.S. interagency officials and AU Commission for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development to advance collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) towards combating HIV, TB, malaria and ending the current COVID-19 pandemic and preparing for future health threats.
In the same vein, Monica Medina, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs underlined U.S. support for the AUC Africa Continental Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy, noting that the U.S. and AUC officials have discussed Africa’s priorities for COP27, scheduled to hold in November 2022 with the goal of keeping the global temperature from rising beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Regarding economic growth, the joint statement disclosed that Akunna Cook, U.S Deputy Assistant Secretary and Albert Muchanga, AUC Commissioner for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, and Minerals have discussed on inclusive economic growth and investment opportunities, noting that the United States is supporting the AfCFTA and other Agenda 2063 programmes and projects to achieve sustainable economic development, build regional value chains, and increase both competitiveness and investment opportunities for mutual benefit.
The media note further exposed that, through Molly Phee, the U.S Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Bankole Adeoye, AUC Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and others, the collaboration is concerned about taking concrete action to address threats to democracy on the continent.
“U.S. and AU officials share the vision that the AU becomes the continental security guarantor, promoting peace and democracy through an operationalized and sustainable African Peace and Security Architecture, APSA, and African Governance Architecture,” the statement said.
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