AU Extraordinary Summit of the PRC on Maritime Security, Safety and Development opens in Lomé, Togo

Members of the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) of the African Union (AU) began meeting in the Extraordinary Summit of the Assembly on Maritime Security, Safety and Development on 11 October 2016, in Lomé, Republic of Togo. The members of the PRC examined the Draft African Union Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development and recommended it for further consideration by the Executive Council and subsequent adoption by the Summit.

Opening the extraordinary session, the Chairperson of the PRC and Ambassador of Chad to Ethiopia, H.E Cherif Mahamat Zene, underscored the fact that once adopted, the Charter will provide Africa with a legal and technical framework for the prevention of, and the fight against maritime threats, while taking into consideration the opportunities availed by the blue economy, the need to curb the impact of climate change and effectively manage natural disasters. He added that the Draft Charter marks a new decisive phase of development of the continent, within the framework on Agenda 2063.

Representing the host Government at the PRC opening, Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and African Integration, H.E. Prof Robert Dussey, highlighted that the objective of the extraordinary summit is to mobilise the entire African continent to collectively identify means and tools that can ensure maritime security, critical to the development of African economies.

On Wednesday, 12 October, the PRC will adopt its recommendations for consideration by the Executive Council, which will be held on 13 October 2016.

The opening ceremony was held in the presence of the Ambassadors of the AU Member States; officials of the host Government and the AU Commission; diplomatic corps; the media and invited guests.