NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The 31st heads of state and government summit of the African Union (AU) concluded here Monday with progress made on anti-corruption and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Djiboutian Foreign Affairs Minister, said the heads of state and government had important deliberations on anti-corruption and African integration. The Nouakchott summit will push forward with these issues, especially the AfCFTA.
He said the leaders have reached a consensus on establishing a monitoring mechanism to fight against domestic and cross-border corruption through cooperation.
Paul Kagame, the AU Chairperson and Rwandan president, said 49 countries, including South Africa, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Lesotho and Burundi, have signed the AfCFTA during the summit.
Chad and Swaziland ratified the agreement, which brings the total number of ratifications to six. A minimum of 22 ratifications are required to enable the AfCFTA to come into force.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, said anti-corruption requires judical, administrative or financial measures.
He said the migration problem is indeed an internal problem of Africa and the solution lies in African integration, adding that the AfCFTA and the free movement of people and goods could help tackle the issue.
The heads of state and government summit is the last part of the 31st African Union summit held from June 25 to July 2, which gathered 22 heads of state and government from AU member states.
