Assembly/AU/Dec.635(XXVIII) Page 1 DECISION ON THE OUTCOME OF THE RETREAT OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE AFRICAN UNION ON THE INSTITUTIONAL REFORM OF THE AFRICAN UNION The Assembly, 1. TAKES NOTE of the Report on “The Imperative to Strengthen our Union: Proposed Recommendations for the Institutional Reform of the African Union” submitted by H.E. Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, to the 2nd Retreat of Heads of State and Government at the AU Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia held on 29 January 2017; 2. COMMENDS H.E. Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, and the High Level Team of Experts for the excellent study undertaken on the institutional reform of the African Union (AU) and the proposals for a system of governance for the AU to enable it address the challenges facing the continent, and for submitting his report in a timely manner, as mandated by Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.606 (XXVII) adopted in Kigali, Rwanda in July 2016; 3. ALSO TAKES NOTE of the recommendations for the proposed reforms to further strengthen the African Union, in the following five (5) areas: a) b) c) d) e) Focus on key priorities with continental scope; Realign African Union institutions in order to deliver against those priorities; Connect the African Union to its citizens; Manage the business of the African Union efficiently and effectively at both the political and operational levels; Finance the African Union sustainably and with the full ownership of the Member States. 4. WELCOMES the comments and observations made by Member States aimed at reinforcing the proposals and identifying the way forward with special emphasis on Pan-African values of unity, solidarity, freedom and equality, and the vision of our Founders of a political and economic Union. We reiterate the importance of African Common Positions as the most effective way of advancing Africa’s voice and representation in the world; 5. ADOPTSthe recommendations in the Report as amended by Member States during the Retreat’s deliberations contained in Annex I to this Decision and, in particular, the following: a) On realigning African Union institutions in order to deliver against those priorities 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, 30 - 31 January 2017, Addis Ababa