African leaders attending the 23rd Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea have reiterated that agricultural transformation is crucial for Africa’s development. The AU Commission Chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma spelt out the continental body’s  strategic directions including increased public-private investment and partnership; embarking on irrigation projects, access to land and agricultural inputs, and applied science and technology to modernise farming.

Dr Dlamini-Zuma called for agriculture to be made attractive to the continent’s youth, especially through specialised training in agriculture and agro-processing. 

“To enable agricultural transformation to flourish, the environment must be conducive. We need conditions of peace and stability, and for our people not to be under threat from armed gangs, terrorists and human and arms traffickers and from poachers,” said Dr Dlamini-Zuma. 

The two-day Summit in Equatorial Guinea, sub-Saharan Africa's third largest oil producer, has as its official theme "Agriculture and Food Security." The host, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo said that there has to be absolute transformation of agriculture, a sector which accounts for one third of Africa’s GDP and employs about 60 per cent of the labour force.

Chairperson of the African Union, and President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania Mr Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, said, “As we commemorate the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)’s 10th Year Anniversary, we appreciate comprehensive dialogue which paves the way to developmental efforts and contributes to the eradication of hunger by 2015.’’

He noted that while Africa had achieved numerous positive results in economic growth, there was still need to fast-track industrial development and investment, and tackle the challenges impeding the acceleration of CAADP implementation.
President Aziz commended efforts such as the Africa 50 Fund and the Africa Agenda 2063, working towards the betterment of the continent. In addition, President Aziz called for more concerted efforts regarding the operations of the “African Mechanism for Peace and Security” noting that terrorism and extremism are threats to African economies.

The Summit was dominated by concerns over a rise in extremist groups sowing terror across the continent. From the Sahel to Nigeria, central and east Africa, armed Islamist groups carry out attacks, kidnappings and chilling massacres on a near-daily basis on the continent.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for a "rapidly operational peace and security structure". He also said that he was encouraged by the establishment of the AU Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan. “This sends a strong message against impunity and for justice and accountability. The parties need to end the fighting immediately, allow humanitarian access and engage in inclusive political dialogue,” said the UN Chief.

The AU has declared 2016 the “African Year of Human Rights” with particular focus on the Rights of Women”.

The UN Secretary-General said that the empowerment of women entails the intensification of efforts to protect women from all forms of violence and secure their right to fully participate in all aspects of society on an equal basis with men.

The closing ceremony will take place on 27th June.