By PAC Correspondent
“Civil Society the Locomotive of Social Peace and Security; Challenges and Possibilities”. That was the focus of the four-day ECOSOCC meeting in Tripoli, Libya.
The meeting was held between 6th and 9th March, 2023 under the African Union chosen theme of Year 2023: ACCELERATION OF AFCFTA IMPLEMNTATION.
“As Deputy Presiding Officer for Southern part of Africa of AU ECOSOCC I was privileged. I met the prime minister of Libya after a conference on the Role of CSOs as locomotive of social security and guarantor of peace,”said Mr. Robert Phiri in his capacity as deputy presiding officer for African Union Ecosocc, Southern part of Africa.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area is an ambitious trade pact aimed at creating a single market for goods and services of almost 1.3bn people across Africa and deepening the economic integration of the continent.
What is the status of the AfCFTA implementation?
The African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA Agreement came into force in May 2019. As of March 2023, 46 countries had ratified and deposited the instruments of ratifications with the African Union Commission. Mozambique has ratified the Agreement but is yet to deposit the instruments of ratification with the AU Commission.”
The meeting was officially opened by His Excellency Mohammed Ketti, Libyas Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs for Cooperation and Organizations, and attended by, among others; H. William Care; Head of the Secretariat ECOSOCC- African Union. §
Dr. Hatem Ghemari; Legal and Political Affairs Adviser (REC, UMA), H. Khalid BOUDALI; Presiding Officer ECOSOCC – African Union and His Excellency Mr. Abdul Hamid Al-DEBAIBA,Prime Minister of National Unity Government.
Presentations for the meeting included one on African Union AGENDA 2063 by Richard Ssewakiryanga,Advisor Policy Research and Strategic Partnerships Center for Basic Research, ECOSOCC,ECOSOCC National Chapter by Patrick Wamakolo,ECOSOCC Accreditation and Ethics by Mr. Ezzeddine HAMDENE.
There was also a Citizens Panel under the topic: Civil Society the Pillar for the Promotion of a Culture Citizenship and Social Peace with panelists Dr. Muhammad Al-Fadel Gibran- humanitarian and social work expert,Mr. Floride Ndakoraniwe, Social Affairs Cluster Chair- ECOSOCC Speaker and others
