Executive Council Passes African Union’s 2023 Budget & Other Decisions
ADDIS ABABA – The African Union Executive Council has concluded its meeting after passing various decisions including the Union’s Budget for the year 2023.
In its two-day-long meeting in Zambia’s capital, the council approved the nomination of Ethiopia and three other African countries, to serve as a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization Council on behalf of Africa.
In addition, the Executive Council, which composed of composed of foreign ministers of members tates, has approved the African Union’s 2023 budget to be $654.8 million.
At least 67% of the total budget will be covered by partners, according to the ministry of foreign affairs.
In the process of approving the budget, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen pointed out that the Continent should aspire to cover, at least, some parts of the budget to key roles in peacekeeping missions.
The Council has also deliberated on offers to host the Headquarters of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) which aims to enhance the capacity of state parties to regulate medical products and technologies.
Eight member countries including Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Rwanda, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe submitted offers to host the AMA that will also work on the creation of an enabling environment for pharmaceutical manufacturing on the continent.
After looking into the eight proposals, Rwanda has been selected to host the Headquarters of the agency, the AU said.
AMA will be the second specialized health agency of the African Union after the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
During the same session, the executive council, on delegated authority from the AU Assembly of Heads of State, has adopted the amended Statute of Africa CDC, which empowers the agency and increases its ability to function independently.
