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The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, was received by H.E. President Alassane Ouattara at the Presidential Palace in Abidjan. Their consultations focused on key continental priorities, including peace & security, regional integration, sustainable financing of the AU, & Africa’s role in a changing global order. The Chairperson @ymahmoudali commended President @AOuattara_PRCI leadership & his longstanding commitment to the AU’s Agenda 2063, recognising Côte d’Ivoire’s important contribution to advancing continental integration & development. On peace & security, they exchanged views on developments in the Sahel, the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), & the growing regionalisation of conflicts. The Chairperson underscored the need for African-led solutions, enhanced regional cooperation, & a stronger continental peace & security architecture. He reaffirmed the importance of restoring constitutional order in countries affected by unconstitutional changes of government, stressing that suspension from AU activities must not mean abandoning their populations or interrupting development cooperation. On economic integration, their discussions highlighted the urgency of accelerating implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), addressing non-tariff barriers, harmonising customs procedures, improving infrastructure, & facilitating the movement of goods & people across borders. Strengthening regional value chains & expanding intra-African trade remain essential to unlocking Africa’s productive potential & deepening economic integration. The Chairperson also underscored the importance of the African Credit Rating Agency in enhancing the credibility & visibility of African economies through robust, context-sensitive assessments, helping to address misperceptions & improve Africa’s access to international capital markets. Against a backdrop of growing geopolitical uncertainty, the meeting reaffirmed the urgency of mobilising domestic resources & strengthening the AU’s financial autonomy to enable the continent to take greater ownership of its priorities and development agenda. President Ouattara commended the AU’s leadership & the Chairperson’s efforts, reaffirming Côte d’Ivoire’s continued support for an Africa that takes greater responsibility for its own peace, security, & development. He emphasised the importance of leveraging the continent’s resources, expertise, & institutions to shape its future & secure its rightful place in global affairs. Earlier in the morning, at the opening of the 3rd Abidjan Border Forum, the Chairperson called for Africa’s borders to become bridges for peace, security, prosperity & continental integration. He urged Member States to ratify the Niamey Convention & the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, while strengthening cross-border cooperation to combat terrorism, trafficking & organised crime. He also underscored the need for modernised border posts, simplified customs procedures & closer ties among communities are essential to advancing AfCFTA & realising Agenda 2063. Read @ au.int/en/pressreleases/20261020/auc-chair...