President Hakainde Hichilema was today among several African heads of state and government who attended the official opening of the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa.
And African countries have been called upon to scale up their cooperation in the face of unilateralism and protectionism which is emerging in the world.
Speaking during the official opening, African Union Commission Chairperson, Mahamoud Youssouf, observed that multilateralism has been tested to the core.
ZANIS reports that Mr Youssouf said African countries must therefore enhance their cooperation programmes to intensify their efforts and determination to work together.
He said efforts to work towards achieving the Agenda 2063 should be intensified in order for African countries to achieve the continent they want.
Mr Youssouf also spoke on the need for African countries to work around making the 2026 AU theme of Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.
Outgoing AU Chairperson and President of Angola, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, stressed that safe water and sanitation are a political, moral, and strategic priority for Africa’s development, health, food security, and stability.
Meanwhile, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres, underscored the importance of the partnership between the UN and the AU.
Mr Guterres called on multilateral cooperation to advance peace, security, and development.
And Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, called for responsible water management, saying water is a foundation of development on the continent.
