South Africa will use its chairship of the African Union to, among other things, promote peace in Africa, pursue economic development, champion the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), amplify the calls for gender equality and promote peace, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday.

President Ramaphosa was speaking at the South African Heads of Mission Accredited to African Countries Conference in Tshwane, just a few weeks until he assumes the Chairmanship of the continental bloc.

On the AfCFTA issue, the 67-year-old said his country would work with President Issoufou of Niger, who is the AU Champion on Continental Economic Integration, to realise success in its implementation.

"It will make Africa the largest common market in the world, with a population of more than a billion people and a combined GDP of over $3 trillion," President Ramaphosa said.

"The Continental Free Trade Area will boost intra-Africa trade, reignite industrialisation, and pave the way for the meaningful integration of Africa into global value chains and the global economy in general."

On continental peace, the South African leader said he would continue to champion for solutions to the different crises around the Africa. He took particular note of the conflict in Libya and South Sudan.

Libya has been beset by violence since the 2011 ouster and killing of former president Muammar Gaddafi, while South Sudan has been dogged by conflict since December 2013, sparked by a political feud between its top leaders.

"As South Africa's Chairship will coincide with the end of AU's aspiration of 'Silencing of the Guns in 2020', it will be important to take stock of the achievements and challenges." President Ramaphosa said.

Egypt is the current chair of the AU, but will hand over at the Heads of State Summit slated for early February.

Heads of State and Government are expected in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the session.

The 33rd African Union (AU) Summit opened on Tuesday 21 January 2020, and will run until 10 February.

Source(s): South African Presidency