On 12 June, the SRSG to the AU and Head of UNOAU met with a delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB) led by the AfDB Deputy Director-General for the East Africa Region, Dr. Abdul Kamara.

Discussions focused on AfDB’s new ten-year Strategy for Africa and the AfDB’s role on the continent. During the meeting, the SRSG expressed his appreciation for the crucial work of the AfDB in Africa, stressing its important role in the peace process in Ethiopia. Participants highlighted the importance of regional economic integration, the ”High 5s” AfDB’s priority areas intended to support African countries’ achievement of the SDGs, as well as the need to reform the global financial architecture.

The SRSG to the AU and Head of UNOAU and the Deputy Director-General further discussed the security landscape in Africa, the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as well as the capabilities of the AU Commission (AUC) to address security challenges on the continent.