Carleton Unviverisyt hosts conference on African Union agenda
by Sarah Onyango
On Thursday March 12, 2015, the African Group of Diplomats to Canada, the African Women Diplomatic Forum, and the Institute of African Studies, presented a one-day conference at Carleton University conference entitled “The African Union’s Agenda 2063: Assessing the Development Vision for Africa.” In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity/African Union, in 2013 the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) pledged their commitment to make progress in eight areas as part of the continent’s development agenda. These include promoting African Identity and Renaissance, implementing a Continental Free Trade Area, establishing agendas for Social and Economic Development as well as Peace and Security, and promoting Democratic Governance. These ideals and goals are to be implemented in national and regional plans and to be integral to a vision for Africa for the next fifty years. Titled “Agenda 2063”, the African Union Commission engaged in a people-driven process to develop this vision of the AU for “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.” The goal of this conference in Ottawa was to critically examine different aspects of this new continental agenda as a way to better understand it, exploring its strengths and areas in need of improvement, and possible points of intersection with Canadian governmental, non-governmental, academic and community groups. Participants and panelists included scholars, diplomats, governmental and non-governmental officials, and members of African diaspora organizations. To see upcoming events by Carleton University’s Institute of African Studies, visit carleton.ca/africanstudies.
