It was a full day for Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma on her second day in Addis Ababa where she is attending the 20th Extra Ordinary session of the African Union Executive Council.
The session is focused on the reform of the African Union Commission; and is also a preparatory session for the 11th Extra ordinary summit of the African Union scheduled for 17th and 18th of November 2018.
During her statement the CS underscored the imperative to have a structure that was rationalised, that ensured no duplication and enhanced coherence and synergy. She emphasized the need for selection of leadership to be guided by international best practices and proposed the establishment of an HR system that is credible, that ensures transparent recruitment, that reward s performance and that attracts and retains qualified African citizens in the African Union Commission.
She also urged that the efforts that are ongoing at the national levels to pursue good governance and improve accountability and eliminate wastage and corruption should be reflected at the AUC. In this regard, she called for reforms that give the African citizens value for their contribution to the AUC. Finally, the CS reaffirmed Kenya’s strong commitment and availability to support and continue contributing to reforming the AUC, which is an engine for achieving agenda 2063.
The CS has also held aa number of bilateral meetings with her counterparts, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ahmed Isse Awad;
the Minister of Foreign Affairs & Cooperation of Mozambique, Jose Antonio Condugua Pachecho; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation of The Gambia Dr. Mamadou Tangara.
In all cases, the ministers underscored the necessity to strengthen our bilateral relations, enhance our cooperation in regional and global issues; agreed to support Kenya’s bid for the UNSC in 2021-2022; and all confirmed high level participation in the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference on 26-28 November 2018.
On 16th November 2018, the CS will attend a ministerial meeting of the EAC foreign ministers, IGAD Council session, and hold a number of scheduled bilateral meetings.
By Capital News
