The African Union Commission (AUC), the secretariat responsible for the day-to-day operations of the African Union—a continental body comprising 55 member states across the African continent—has formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the African Forum for Muslim Councils (AFMC).
The AFMC is an umbrella organization that unites national Muslim councils from 36 countries in Africa. The signing ceremony took place at the AU Commission Secretariat in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia over the weekend.
The African Forum for Muslim Councils, under its current Chairman, His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje, the Mufti of Uganda, was represented by Dr. Ebraheem Ssali, the Executive Secretary. The AU Commission was represented by Ms. Salma Tanany, Acting Director of the Citizens & Diaspora Directorate. The event was also attended by officials from both organizations, including Counsel Norman Mbabazi, Head of the Legal Department at AFMC.
The agreement outlines several areas of cooperation, including:
– Promoting community development, with a focus on advancing democracy and enforcing the human rights of children and women.
– Reconstructing religious traditions to foster non-violence and tolerance, while addressing radicalism through critical engagement.
– Advancing economic development programs and efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
– Harmonizing the role of Islamic organizations in the promotion of democracy and justice, among other goals.
