“You took an unprecedented leap forward for African self-reliance and dignity. We congratulate you for this bold and visionary leadership that you have shown,” said Zuma.
Kagame said Africa should finance AU programs and take urgent steps toward ownership by strengthening its political will. “By falling into routine, it means that we have accepted to be held by our donors. We should reject that,” he said.
“We should use this summit to identify our priorities and not be divided in our goals,” Kagame told more than 30 heads of state at the Kigali Convention Center.
At least 76 percent of the AU budget is donor funded. A mechanism has been proposed for member states to contribute 0.2 percent of all their import duties toward the budget that stands at $447 million according to Rwanda finance and economic planning minister Claver Gatete.
This would realize $1.2 billion that would be channeled into 75 percent of AU commission programs and the rest toward peace and security operations.
“Goods that would not be levied are the essentials like medicine, fertilizer and others that are critical to the member state,” said Gatete.