President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Addis Ababa to attend the '36th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government', set to be held on February 18 and 19.
He is being accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Naledi Pandor; Presidency Minister, Mondli Gungubele; Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana; Health Minister, Joe Phaahla; Trade, Industry and Competition Minister, Ebrahim Patel, and Defence and Military Veterans Minister, Thabang Makwetla.
Ramaphosa, in his capacity as the chair of the AU Peace & Security Council (PSC), will today chair a meeting to discuss the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
“During the summit, he will present the ‘Report on the State of Peace and Security on the African Continent’,” a government statement said.
South Africa is the chair of the AU PSC for February 2023.
“In his capacity as the ‘AU Champion on Covid-19’, Ramaphosa will also present the report on the AU response to Covid-19 in Africa to the Assembly.
“The focus of the report will be on concrete actions undertaken to contain the spread of the pandemic on the continent,” the Presidency said.
Ramaphosa is also expected to deliver the progress report on the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) infrastructure championing initiative.
The Assembly will convene under the theme: “Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTFA) Implementation”.
It is expected to take stock of the progress made thus far in the implementation of the AfCFTA following the start of trading on January 1, 2021.
African heads of state and government are expected to reaffirm their commitment to the full implementation of the AfCFTA and the significance of accelerating the finalisation of outstanding issues – including, the rules of origin and supporting protocols.
The current chair of the African Union, President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall, will present the annual report of the chairperson as well as a report on global governance matters where a proposal for the AU to become a member of The Group of Twenty (G20) will be considered by the heads of state and government.
Sall will also be handing over chairing of the AU to the Island State of Comoros.
– SAnews.gov.za
