Press release
The African Union has reaffirmed its continued commitment to a united, stable, proactive and prosperous Africa with a view to provide adequate and timely response to the multi-dimensional challenges of the complex world we living in. This was contained in a declaration made on March 25 2019 in Marrakech, Morocco, at the end of the African Ministerial Conference on the African Union’s support to the United Nations’ political process on the regional dispute over the Sahara.
In recognition of the need to consolidate unity and galvanize efforts towards creating a well-to-do Africa, the ministerial convergence agreed to implement the recommendations of the 31st Ordinary session of the Assembly of the union, held on the 1st and 2nd of July 2018 in Mauritania, regarding the regional dispute over the Sahara.
The declaration also hailed the unanimous adoption of the AU Commission Chairperson’s report on’Assembly Decision 693′ on the Sahara, which reaffirms the exclusivity of the UN as the framework for seeking a “mutually acceptable, realistic, pragmatic and lasting political solution to the Sahara issue”. According to the ministerial conference the adoption of the “AU Assembly Decision 693” at the 28th session of the African Heads of state and governments held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia from the 30th to 31st January 2017, reflects their commitment to the strategic plan of heads of states and governments to overcoming the causes of division, cleavage and fragmentation threatening the unity of the African continent.
The Decision 693 ordered the establishment of the AU Troika Mechanism, which composed of current, outgoing and incoming Presidents of the AU to provide effective support to efforts led by the united nations. It is aimed at protecting, supporting and preserving the integrity of ongoing political process under the supervision of the UN security council with a view to achieving “a political, realistic, pragmatic and lasting solution to the Sahara issue based on compromise”. The conference welcomed and affirmed their commitment to the constructive and effective implementation of the mandate of the AU Troika.
The declaration endorsed by 37 African countries recognized the urgent need to address the priorities of the African continent, which include sustainable human development, integration and the prosperity of citizens as in line with agenda 2063.
The ministerial session therefore, warned that any initiative aimed at subverting the content of Decision 693 may as well undermine the credibility of the partnership processes and assemblies.
The African Ministerial Conference commended the kingdom of Morocco for hosting the conference saying the gesture demonstrates the country’s dedication to the implementation of Decision 693. It further thanked the various delegations from across the continent for attending the convergence.
