Chapo attends African Union Summit

Maputo, 16 Feb (AIM) – Mozambican President Daniel Chapo is attending his first African Union summit, in Addis Ababa, this weekend, where he has stressed the need to boost cooperation between African countries to face common challenges, particularly in creating jobs for young people and in strengthening political dialogue on the continent.

In his speech, according to Foreign Minister Maria dos Santos Lucas, Chapo thanked the African Union for sending an election observation mission to Mozambique, and referred to the post-election dialogue now under way in the country.

He stressed the importance of adopting job creation strategies, particularly for the insertion of youth into the labour market, and urged other AU member states to collaborate with Mozambique in this challenge.

Chapo also held a series of bilateral meetings, notably with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at which the two men reaffirmed the strategic partnership between Mozambique and the UN. Chapo thanked the UN for its humanitarian support, particularly in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, buffeted by cyclones and by attacks from Islamist terrorists.

Chapo also met with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu. According to Lucas, “Tanzania expressed its complete willingness to continue supporting Mozambique in the fight against terrorism”.

In a meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Chapo thanked Rwanda for its military support in the battle against the jihadist groups.

In the area of economic diplomacy, Chapo met with the President of the African Development Bank (ADB), Akinwumi Adesina, and discussed the possibility of Mozambique benefitting from new projects financed by the ADB.

According to Lucas, Adesina guaranteed that the ADB is willing to continue supporting Mozambique, and stressed the existence of a guarantee fund which can be used to obtain financing from other international institutions.
(AIM)
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