The first Pan African Simulation of the African Union brought together 211 young people from 23 African nationalities from the 5 regions of the continent

By African Union Commission (AUC)
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TUNIS, Tunisia, May 29, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- In line with the Agenda 2063 and the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the OAU/AU, The African Union Commission (AUC) took active part in the Model African Union Simulation, held in Tunis, Tunisia from 23 to 25 May 2014 through a delegation of six youth from the AUC Youth Division/Human Resources Science and Technology (HRST), led by Mrs. Habiba El Mejri Scheikh, Director of Information and Communication.

The first Pan African Simulation of the African Union organised in the North of Africa, is an initiative that has emerged from spontaneous African Youth Movement that has reflected a concrete image of the integration, harmony and unity between all the regions of the African continent. It has brought together a total of 211 young people from 23 different African nationalities from the 5 regions of the continent gathered during three days to share their knowledge and skills and promote the culture of peace, dialoged and mutual respect and learning.

AUC has been involved from the start of the preparations by providing guidance to the process and supporting the preparatory organisation of the Model African Union Simulation.

The main objectives of the model of the AU are to: i) involve the African Youth and engage them in their duty to maintain the unity, peace and development in the continent; ii) establish a culture of initiative and leadership; iii) create awareness of the role, the organisation and importance of the AU at continental and international level and iv) highlight the issue of economic, social and security policies facing the African Continent.

The debate dealt with 6 important thematic:

1. Agenda 2063

2. Inter cultural, Inter generation dialogue

3. Free economic movement in Africa

4. External trade and international relations

5. African Court of Justice

6. Terrorist movements and armed groups

In this context, Mrs. Habiba El Mejri Scheikh, AUC Director of Information and Communication highlighted on her speeches of the opening and closing ceremonies the big interest and the support from the AUC leadership to Youth and Women. She underscored that the Model African Union Simulation is an excellent opportunity for the next leaders of the institution to experience the processes involved in understanding and analyzing problems and challenges affecting the continent and creates an avenue for dialogue and solutions to these problems. The dates chosen for this highly praised event to coincide with the 25th of May - a special day to all Africans marked globally as "Africa Day" further reinforced the historic nature of this event, she added.

Presenting the Agenda in 2063, Mrs. El Mejri Scheikh explained that it's both a Vision and an Action Plan and a call for action to all segments of African society to work together to build a prosperous and united Africa based on shared values and a common destiny. Agenda 2063 strives to enable Africa remain focused and committed to the ideals envisaged in the context of a rapidly changing world, said the DIC Director. She added that it's therefore a joint strategic framework for 50 years to build inclusive growth and sustainable development of Africa, a framework that follows an approach based on results with concrete and measurable goals.

The agenda 2063 is intended to be fully participative and completely owned by all Africans, with an absolute commitment of the women and the young people in particularly, on the basis of the mindset of collective work for the prosperity of all and common destiny in united and strong Africa, said the DIC Director calling the African Youth to bring your specific contribution.

On its side the African Union will make every effort to institutionalize this event to take place every year under the initiative and responsibility of the youth and for it to be organized in all regions of the continent, promised Mrs. El Mejri Scheikh. (See the full speech on AU Web Site: www.au.int .)

During the three-day simulation the AUC delegation played an important role as members of the jury, chaired by AUC/DIC Director in order to choose the best delegate and the best chairperson of the whole simulation exercise.

The co-directors of the initiative Hamza Gadamsi (Tunisia) and Blamassi Touré (Cote d'Ivoire) expressed their gratitude for the AUC, the Partners and the Tunisian authorities that supported this young initiative and expressed their willingness to institutionalize the Model of the African Union Through the coordination with the Youth Division of the African union

The Tunisian minister of High Education and Scientific Research; the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador of Burkina Faso in Tunis; the Representative of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation as well as other partners attended the opening ceremony while the Tunisian Secretary of state for Foreign Affairs chaired the closing ceremony.