AU SAFGRAD ATTENDED MISAHEL SEMINAR IN ALGIERS, ALGERIA (2-3 Dec. 2015).

 

AU SAFGRAD attended the Seminar/Workshop on “The African Union development initiatives in the Sahel and the prospects for the implementation of the agreement for peace and reconciliation in Mali”

On December, 2nd and 3rd, 2015 AU SAFRGAD has attended in Algiers, Algeria a seminar on: “The African Union development initiatives in the Sahel and the prospects for the implementation of the agreement for peace and reconciliation in Mali”.

This important meeting was jointly organized by the AU Commission, through the AU Mission for Mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Popular and Democratic Republic of Algeria. It was attended by relevant international institutions (UN, AfDB, ECOWAS, AUC, G5 Sahel, CILSS, etc.) as well as some countries of the Sahel Region (Mali, Algeria, Nigeria, Guinea, Burkina Faso, etc.). Representatives of some key movements, parties of the Peace Agreement process in northern Mali, were also among the participants.

Mr. Youssoupha MBENGUE, Senior Information and Outreach Officer, who represented the Office, made notably a presentation at this seminar/Workshop. The two main objectives of the seminar/workshop were as follows:

         Allow the preparation of a clear cartography and inventory of on-going and planned development projects in the Sahel by various AU structures and organs as well as by Regional Economic Communities (RECs), National Governments and International partners. This inventory and cartography should facilitate the coordination between the various actors and the work of the AU in promoting and pleading for the swift implementation of these projects. This action action falls within the priority areas of the “Development” pillar of the AU Strategy for the Sahel Region, adopted by the Peace and Security Council on 11 August 2014; and

         Encourage various actors involved in the Sahel to accord priority in the implementation of their respective Sahel strategies or initiatives, to relevant parts of the Malian peace accord recently signed (May and June 2015) in view of contributing to its swift implementation, particularly with regard to the development needs of the northern regions of Mali and in consideration of the fact that stabilizing Mali is crucial for te stabilization of the Sahel region as a whole. This action is te core of the AU strategy for te Sahel Region.

The two-day meeting was also an opportunity for exchange on the coordination and monitoring mechanisms for the implementation of the Sahel projects and initiatives of various AU organs and structures under the overall coordination of MISAHEL, on behalf of the AU commission.

 

For more details, Please check  here the Communique final (in French) that has been released at the end the meeting.