Conference of Ministers 2017

Joint Conference postponed to a later date; Side events continue as planned

March 25, Dakar, Senegal - Following the impasse on the objections raised by Morocco and other member States on the participation of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), and the legal arguments presented by the Secretariats of the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Bureau of the 10th Joint Annual Meetings of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration and the Economic Commission for Africa Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development recommended that the meeting be adjourned to a later date.

The Chair of the Bureau informed the meeting that despite the concessions made by some stakeholders, the Bureau and the two Secretariats of the AUC and the ECA had come to the conclusion that the required conditions had not been met for the continuation of the meeting. The Bureau apologized for the inconvenience caused and commited to undertaking the necessary consultations on a way forward on the issues.  He also thanked the Government of Senegal for hosting the meeting, and member states for their patience.

The Economic Commission for Africa notes that all the side events and other meetings, including the Regional Coordination Mechanism and the launch of key reports would continue as planned.