Addis Ababa, 7 November 2026 (SPS) – The Ministerial Session of the Sixth Ordinary Session of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (STC-EST VI) was held on Friday, 6 November 2026, at the African Union Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the participation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
The Ministerial Session was preceded by the Experts’ Session, held from 2 to 4 November, under the theme: “Accelerating Africa’s Human Capital and Innovation: Resilient Education, Science and Technology Systems for the AU Decade of Accelerated Action for the Transformation of Education and Skills Development in Africa (2025–2034).”
Discussions focused on building more resilient and inclusive education, science and technology systems to advance the implementation of Agenda 2063 and achieve sustainable development across the continent.
The Ministerial Session included the election of the Sixth Bureau of the Committee, the presentation and consideration of the Experts’ Session report and its recommendations for adoption, the consideration and adoption of the Ministerial Report, and the determination of the date and venue of the Seventh Ordinary Session.
The Minister of Education and Vocational Training, member of the National Secretariat, H.E. Abdelkader Taleb Omar, was represented at the Ministerial Session by his Adviser for African Union Affairs, Mr. Hamdi Salec Did. The session was also attended by Mr. Aman Sidi Abdallah, Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of the Sahrawi Republic to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
In his address to the Ministerial Session, the representative of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training congratulated the Specialized Technical Committee on Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, the AU Member States and all participants on their considerable efforts and fruitful deliberations. He expressed confidence that their outcomes would benefit future generations, both boys and girls, and contribute to the progress, prosperity and economic development of their peoples and countries, enabling them to join the ranks of developed nations.
He also highlighted the considerable efforts made by the Sahrawi Republic in educating and training successive generations of Sahrawis, despite the exceptional circumstances and particular situation endured by the Sahrawi people since 1976. He stressed the need to support the Sahrawi Republic so that it can continue and strengthen these efforts.
The representative further welcomed the recommendations contained in the Experts’ Report submitted to the Ministerial Session and called for their adoption. These included two declarations proposed by Algeria on supporting start-ups and addressing the phenomenon of brain drain, with a view to reversing the loss of skilled professionals and encouraging the return of expatriate talent.
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