9th ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government, Nairobi - On the last day of the Summit, President Danny Faure endorsed the Nairobi Nguvu Ya Pamoja Declarationwhich paves the way for a transformed ACP, committed to multilateralism; and signed the Revised Georgetown Agreement.
In his statement, President Faure called for a greater and more focused mandate of the ACP Group of States. “More than ever before, we must remain more united as a group and an organisation, as one ACP, with a single and loud voice”, said President Faure.
The President’s statements further called for unity in the fight against terrorism, radicalisation and violent extremism. He expressed the need for ACP countries to strengthen their democratic institutions, as well as enhancing and modernising legislations and judicial capacities to hinder money laundering efforts, weaken regional drug trafficking networks and disrupt the illicit trade of conventional weapons.
On climate change, the President’s statement urged global leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the Paris Agreement. He called on ACP Heads of State and Government to take bold steps in moving towards a low carbon economy, identifying their Nationally Determined Contributions and adopting clean air initiatives to reduce their independence on fossil fuels. Noting the threats to oceans and marine biodiversity, he stressed on the importance of committing to SDG14 on the conservation of oceans, seas and marine resources. His message to the Summit called for the establishment of Vulnerability Resilience Index in assessing SIDS’ development status for international financial structures and stronger and cohesive cooperation amongst the ACP SIDS.
Addressing the issue of intra-ACP cooperation, President Faure placed great emphasis on an inclusive economic system which considers marginalised communities, embraces the potentials of girls and women in the workforce and addresses root causes of societies’ ills leaving young boys and men vulnerable to a life of crime and drug addiction. He further stressed on the need to create an enabling business environment for job opportunities and wealth creation.
Referring to the unilateral and arbitrary listing of ACP countries as non-cooperative tax jurisdictions and the recent action of an European Union member state in black-listing Seychelles, President Faure requested that the ACP Heads of State and Government “strongly urge” the EU and its member states to carry out inclusive political and technical dialogue with the ACP Group regarding cooperation on tax matters. Many leaders took the floor to support Seychelles as this action is not only disrespectful, but also against natural justice.
President Faure expressed his thanks to the outgoing ACP Secretary General, Dr Patrick Gomes for his excellent stewardship of the organisation. He congratulated the incoming Secretary General, Ambassador Georges Chikoti on the assumption of his new post and guaranteed the full support of Seychelles in the pursuit of his mandate.
The Revised Georgetown Agreement which constitutes the Organisation of the African, Caribbean, Caribbean, Pacific Group of States (OACPS) will now see this transcontinental organisation, transformed and fit for purpose.
The 10th Summit of the ACP Heads of State and Government will be held in Angola in 2022.