Continent Has ‘High Expectations’ Says Ramaphosa As South Africa Prepares For AU Chairship

Riyaz Patel

President Cyril Ramaphosa says economic integration and cooperation, women’s empowerment, good governance and ‘silencing the guns’ across the continent will form the bedrock of South Africa’s tenure as African Union (AU) chair.

On 8 and 9 February 2020, Heads of State and Government will convene in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the 33rd Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly where South Africa will assume the chairship.

Addressing South African heads of mission in Pretoria Tuesday, Ramaphosa outlined how diplomatic missions abroad can help execute Pretoria’s mandate as chair of the African Union in 2020.

“Our Chairship of the AU will have an impact on all of South Africa’s missions – especially multilateral missions – since our ambassadors will need to promote not only South Africa and its positions, but also the positions of the African Union,” said Ramaphosa.

“At the top of our agenda as AU Chair must be the deepening