Addis Ababa, 18 October 2018:  The Commissioner for Peace and Security, Smail Chergui, on behalf of Chairperson of the Commission, Moussa Faki Mahmat, congratulates the Republic of Malawi and the United Republic of Tanzania for the progress made in drafting a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will establish a cross border committee along the Songwe River Basin, which would promote cross border cooperation between the Parties and ensure the peaceful co-existence between the local communities living around the River Basin.

He further welcomed the participation of the Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation (FemWise-Africa) member, Ms. Miriam Naluwooza, an experienced cross-border trade expert from Uganda, who supported the meeting between the Republic of Malawi and the United Republic of Tanzania.

Established in 2007, the African Union Border Programme (AUBP) contributes to the structural prevention of conflict through the delimitation and demarcation of borders. It also offers a platform for the negotiated resolution of border disputes and the promotion of regional and continental integration through cross border cooperation.

The Commission, through AUBP, has pledged its support to the two Member States in further developing, finalizing and implementing the MoU on cross border cooperation. In this regard, the Commission would like encourage the Member States to sign, ratify, and domesticate the AU Convention on Cross Border Cooperation (Niamey Convention).

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