31 January 2016: Africa is the only region of the world with a common position on every aspect of the post-2015 development agenda, the ‘Common African Position’ (CAP), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, told African leaders at the 26th session of the African Union (AU) Assembly. Sirleaf delivered a final report in her capacity as Chair of the High Level Committee of Heads of State and Government of the AU on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, stressing the universal nature of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their applicability to all people everywhere.

Sirleaf highlighted Africa’s role in having peace and security included in the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. She explained, “Although there was some resistance in certain quarters on this issue, we were able to convince other partners of the imperative of including these two elements…. Goal 16, which refers to peaceful and safe societies, is a prominent aspect of the development agenda.”

African countries have begun “domestication” of the new development agenda, Sirleaf reported, explaining that the integration of the CAP into Africa’s Agenda 2063 means that implementation of Agenda 2063’s First Ten-Year Implementation Plan will also contribute to SDG implementation. She said, “at least 23 countries on the continent have already held consultations with the AU domestication missions,” and have begun implementation processes.

The 26th AU Assembly took place from 30-31 January 2016, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme, ‘2016: African Year of Human Rights, with particular focus on the Rights of Women.’ [Government of Liberia Press Release, 31 January] [Government of Liberia Press Release, 29 January] [AU Summit Website] [IISD RS Story on AU Summit]