By TESFA-ALEM TEKLE
A high level delegation led by Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), on Thursday met and held talks with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.
The two sides held extensive talks on the challenges and future plans of the continental organization.
Moussa Faki Mahamat underlined that Africa’s progress continues to be hampered by daunting security and stability challenges that are compounded by internal weaknesses and external meddling.
The AUC chairperson urged Eritrea for greater contribution and participation in the concerted endeavors to overcome the multiple challenges the continent is facing.
During the discussion, President Isaias indicated that the African Union will require a structural review for optimal operational progress.
Failure by member states to shoulder their annual contributions was indicated to be another factor that prevented the AUC from relying on its own resources.
Mr. Faki Mahamat further stated that multiple internal and inter-State conflicts; attendant crises; terrorism and marginalization of Africa in international forums continue to compound the challenges and constrain the pace of desired progress. I
In this respect, the AUC Chairperson urged for greater contribution and participation of Eritrea in the concerted endeavors to overcome these challenges.
President Isaias, on his part, stressed on the imperative of resolving African issues by Africans themselves; noting that unremitting external interventions carried out under various pretexts were essentially aimed at usurping Africa’s rich natural resources that amount to 60% of global wealth.
Africa needs to extricate itself from this quagmire, the President underlined.
President Isaias further emphasized that sustainable development and prosperity cannot be achieved without enduring peace and stability.
In this perspective, the president said African nations need to pursue nation-building that is predicated on citizenship and focus on joint programs of regional partnership on the basis of their own internal resources.