Whereas, since the formation of the African Union in July 2002, succeeding the Organization of African Unity founded in 1963, the African Union has set out notable goals to foster peace and security, socioeconomic development and growth, democratic and accountable governance, and economic engagement and investment across the continent and its member States; Whereas the United States Government recognized the African Union as an international organization in 2005, and initiated the United States Mission to the African Union in 2006, making the United States the first non-African country to establish a diplomatic mission to the African Union; Whereas the United States has collaborated with the African Union since 2002, and in 2010, the United States and the African Union held their first bilateral meeting of senior officials, which sought to strengthen mutual United States-African Union interests, promote shared values in a new strategic partnership, and foster cooperation on a range of issues, notably those relating to peace and security, democratic governance, economic growth, public health, and food security in Africa; Whereas the Department of State continues to maintain robust relations with the African Union through the annual United States-African Union Commission High-Level Dialogue between the Secretary of State and Chairperson of the African Union Commission in addition to sub-cabinet officials across the United States Government and their African Union counterparts, and the eighth annual dialogue in March 2022 reaffirmed both parties’ commitment to collaboration on issues of global concern; Whereas the second United States-Africa Leaders Summit was held in December 2022 and affirmed renewed United States engagement with the African Continent, including in areas related to peace and security, public health and infectious disease outbreaks, food security, human rights, and economic development