Before concluding his term, Kagame chaired the 40th session of AUDA-NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee on Wednesday 15th February 2023 which discussed health, infrastructure financing and elected President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the new Chair of the AUDA-NEPAD HSGOC.

It was also attended by Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Nkengasong as partners.

The Head of State commended AUDA-NEPAD for working closely with regional economic communities and member states to set up regional health financing hubs.

As highlighted during the second Dakar Financing Summit hosted by President Mack Sall recently, Kagame reminded participants that the continent’s infrastructure remains weak yet the world continued to experience difficult times last year.

The President underscored that he shared Africa’s perspective on these pressing issues as he attended G20 and the Effective Development Cooperation Summit on behalf of AUDA-NEPAD.

“First, I mentioned that higher borrowing costs are deepening Africa’s debt burden. But there are tools to get our economies back on track,” he said.

Of these, Kagame pointed out the International Monetary Fund’s new Resilience and Sustainability Trust, and the Debt Service Suspension Initiative.

Secondly, the Head of State emphasized that Africa continues to lag behind in terms of pharmaceutical production where the continent’s efforts to bridge this gap ‘are crucial to our health security’.

Thirdly, Kagame highlighted that what Africa needs is peace when it comes to geopolitical conflict.

He also mentioned how Africa has been disproportionally affected by the rise in food and fertilizer prices.

To better support the implementation of AUDA-NEPAD programs, Kagame observed that the agency needs to be financed in a predictable and sustainable manner given that it has fallen significantly as voluntary contributions have declined, hence increasing dependence of development partners.

“These issues need to be addressed. Otherwise, it is like saying, that we do not need the work which AUDA-NEPAD is charged with doing on our behalf.

As I conclude my term as Chair, I take this opportunity to thank all of you, along with our partners, for the continued dedication to Africa’s development. Let’s continue working together to meet our objectives,” he said.

Kagame has been chairing the AUDA-NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee since 2020.

President Paul Kagame has concluded his term as the Chairperson of the African Union Development Agency Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee.