Malabo, 25 June 2014
President Kagame arrived today in Malabo where he joined heads of states and government from across Africa for the 23rd Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit.
Following the 2012 African Union Summit decision that proclaimed 2014 as the year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa, this year’s summit will focus on food security and the role of agriculture in transforming Africa.
The 23rd Summit will also mark the 10th Anniversary of the adoption of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP).
Launched in 2006 in Rwanda and combined with the allocation of 12.6% of the national budget to agriculture, the adoption of CAADP contributed to 5.8% sector growth in the first five years of its implementation. Through a second commitment to CAADP, Rwanda aims to continue its focus on agriculture with an emphasis on productivity and increasing private sector involvement.
During his first day in Malabo, President Kagame held a bilateral meeting with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogoand ended the day with a session marking the 10th Anniversary of the Peace and Security Council.
The meeting celebrates the achievements of the Peace and Security Council and renews member states commitment to promoting peace, security and achieving a conflict free Africa by 2020 as agreed in the Africa 2063 agenda.
Chairing the Peace and Security Council meeting, President Museveni pointed to the failure to distinguish between just wars and unjust wars and the ideology of sectarianism and ethnic division as root causes of conflicts that continue to afflict several countries in Africa.
On the occasion of its 10 years, the Peace and Security Council identify challenges to its mission including lack of funding and the need to increase cooperation with international organization in the field of security.
Amongst its achievements, the PSC counts ongoing peacekeeping mission in Darfur and South Sudan, Somalia Mali and Central African Republic.
During the three-day summit, President Kagame will be hosting a session on the East African Standby Force set to be established by the end of this year.
President Kagame will also be presenting the Kigali Action Plan encouraging AU Member States, the African Development Bank and the AU partners to improve hygiene and sanitation conditions and increase investment in better management of Africa’s water resources.