Africa Group considers Handover of Africa–EU Regional Protocol Coordination

Brussels – Heads of Mission of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Africa Group met in Brussels to consider the handover of coordination responsibilities for the Africa–EU Regional Protocol, one of the key pillars of the Samoa Agreement.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of H.E. Ambassador Daniel Evina Abe’e, Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon to the Kingdom of Belgium, and Dean of the OACPS and African Ambassadors in Brussels.

H.E. Ambassador Sibusisiwe Mngomezulu of the Kingdom of Eswatini, the outgoing Chief Negotiator and Coordinator of the Regional Protocol for Africa, presented a report on the negotiation process. The report traced how the talks unfolded and highlighted the collective contribution of Africa’s four regions to developing a common African position.

Discussions centred on ensuring institutional continuity as the work moves from negotiation to implementation. Participants stressed three priorities: Clear coordination mechanisms to guide the transition, Strong regional participation across all four African regions, Preservation of collective African ownership of the Protocol

The Samoa Agreement is the framework governing relations between the European Union and the OACPS members. Its Regional Protocols, including the one for Africa, give each region a tailored platform for cooperation with the EU. A smooth handover of coordination responsibilities is important to keep Africa speaking with one voice as the Protocol enters its implementation phase.

The OACPS Secretariat shared details of the meeting on its official channels.

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