Addis Ababa, 15th January 2019: The African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson, H.E. Amb. Kwesi Quartey, received today, Ms. Hanna Serwaah Tetteh, the UN Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union.

Welcoming Ms. Hanna Serwaah Tetteh to the African Union headquarters, Amb. Quartey underscored the importance of building on the existing collaboration between the African Union and the United Nations on issues relating to peace and security as well as sustainable development in Africa.

The Deputy Chairperson briefed H.E. Ms. Tetteh on the priority focus of the Commission, highlighting the ongoing institutional reforms of the Union, the integration agenda and domestic resource mobilization policy implementation, all aimed at achieving equitable and inclusive socio-economic transformation of the continent.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on the training and manpower development programs within the AU AND UN as well as the AU theme for 2019, “The year of Refugees, Returnees & Internally Displaced Persons: Toward Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa”. Amb. Kwesi Quartey stated that forced displacement in Africa could be linked to democracy, human rights and governance. He emphasized the relevance of good governance and rule of law in Africa and its links with development. He added that the African Union has been active in the area of preventive diplomacy which had largely contributed to the reduction of conflicts in the last decades.

Amb. Quartey observed human capacity development is a driver of sustainable economic growth. He underlined the linkage between education, skills revolution, youth employment and accelerated development. He noted the progress made by member states of the Africa Union in signing and ratifying the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as well as the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, in the Union’s efforts to advance the economic integration of Africa.

The UN Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union expressed her disposition and the UN Secretary-General’s resolve to working together to support the AU in its activities. “UN is backstopping the activities of the African Union to achieve the objective of silencing the guns by 2020” added H.E. Ms. Hanna Serwaah Tetteh. She emphasized the need for close collaboration between the two organizations to advance the AU/UN joint priorities in peace, security and sustainable development.

Media Enquiry:
Gamal Ahmed A. Karrar, Directorate of Information and Communication; E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org