Ramaphosa takes SADC priorities to AU meeting in Egypt
EL-ALAMEIN — President Cyril Ramaphosa has joined African leaders in Egypt for talks aimed at speeding up continental trade and infrastructure development while improving coordination between the African Union and regional blocs including the Southern African Development Community.
Ramaphosa is attending the 8th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in his capacity as SADC chairperson, placing him at the table representing the regional bloc as leaders assess progress towards deeper African economic integration.
The meeting in El-Alamein is focused on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, infrastructure development, peace and security and the division of responsibilities between the AU, Regional Economic Communities and individual member states.
The division of responsibilities has become an important part of the AU’s Agenda 2063 programme because many continental commitments ultimately depend on regional blocs and national governments for implementation.
AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf told the meeting that institutional and operational obstacles continue to slow regional integration despite progress already made. He called for clearer responsibilities between the AU and regional organisations and more reliable funding for continental programmes.
The AfCFTA is central to that agenda. The trade agreement is intended to progressively reduce barriers between African economies and create a larger continental market, but its effectiveness depends on improvements in transport infrastructure, customs systems, industrial capacity and the movement of goods between countries.
South Africa is attending the talks with a particular interest in regional industrialisation and trade. On the sidelines of the broader programme in Egypt, the country has called for greater African cooperation and investment in the automotive sector to expand production, trade and employment.
Peace and security are also on the agenda as several parts of the continent face armed conflict and political instability. The meeting is considering efforts to improve the AU’s conflict prevention and early-warning mechanisms.
Ramaphosa also held bilateral talks with Youssouf, where the two discussed regional integration and other AU priorities. The AU Commission chairperson acknowledged South Africa’s support for the organisation’s digitalisation programme.
Ramaphosa separately met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to discuss bilateral relations and areas of cooperation between South Africa and Egypt. Egypt said the leaders also discussed regional and international matters during the meeting.
El-Sisi told the AU gathering that stronger coordination should produce practical projects and measurable benefits rather than leaving continental integration largely at the level of agreements and policy commitments.
For SADC, the meeting provides an opportunity to place Southern Africa’s trade, infrastructure and development priorities within the AU’s wider integration programme as the continent enters the second decade of Agenda 2063.
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