ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA:  President Yoweri Museveni has arrived in the Ethiopian Capital Addis Ababa for the 33rd ordinary session of the assembly of Heads of State and governments at the African Union headquarters.

This years summit is being held under the theme, “Silencing the guns: Creating Conducive conditions for Africa’s Development.” The initiative of silencing the guns is a flagship project of Africa’s agenda 2063 and aims to achieve a conflict-free Africa, make peace a reality for all and rid the continent of wars, civil conflicts, gender-based violence, violent conflicts and preventing genocide.

The Ethiopian Minister of Science and Higher Education Hon. Hirut Woldemariam received the President at Bole International airport. 

Others at the Airport to receive him were the Ugandan Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Sam Kahamba Kuteesa, State Minister of Finance for Planning David Bahati, Ugandan Ambassador to Ethiopia Rebecca Otengo and her deputy Amb. Idule Amoko

During this year’s summit, current AU chairman, President Abdel Fattah el Sisi of Egypt, will officially hand over the chairmanship of the African Union to President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa   at the opening session. This will be the second time South Africa holds chairmanship of the continental body after first doing so in 2002 when the African Union succeeded the Organisation of African Unity.

The February 9-10 summit will discuss peace and security in Africa, among other issues. The assembly will review progress made and the challenges to peace, stability and sustainable development in Africa. 

In addition to the key discussions around Africa’s peace and security agenda, other headline issues to be discussed include, sustainable funding of Africa’s development agenda specifically addressing the scale of assessment and contributions to the AU’s budget; progress made in the implementation of Agenda 2063; operationalization of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); African candidatures in the international system, the International Criminal Court, and Africa’s Digital Transformation Strategy.

#ENDS….