The twenty seventh (27th) Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) is set to take place between Sunday 17 and Monday 18 July 2016.
[Photos] Rwanda rolls out red carpet for African leaders arriving for AU Summit
Leaders from across the continent are streaming into the Rwandan capital, Kigali; and as expected the red carpet has been out since Friday for the arrivals as host president Paul Kagame and H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, outgoing Chairperson of the AU; sit to discuss critical issues concerning the continent.
Among others President Mugabe of Zimbabwe, John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, Idris Deby Itno of Chad, Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, President Filipe Myusi of Mozambique, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni and Ivory Coast’s Allasane Ouattara.
Equatorial Guinea president Teodoro Obiang Nguema
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa
Central Africa Republic’s Faustin Archange Touadera
Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama
President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe
President Hage Geingob of Namibia
Chadian President Idris Deby Itno
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his wife arrive for the summit
President Mahamadou Issoufo Niger
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta of #Mali
President Macky Sall of Senegal
President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud
Vice President Mossa Elkony of Libya
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt
Algeria Prime Minister Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal
President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire
Prof Yemi Osinbajo, vice president of Nigeria represents President Buhari
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn
Burkina Faso Roch Marc Kabore
Also in attendance will be H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commissioner and the eight AU Commissioners.
Africa Passport Launch and election of new AU Chair
During the Summit, the African Union (AU) is expected to launch the AU passport, a flagship project of Africa’s Agenda 2063 with the view to facilitate free movement of persons, goods and services around the continent.
The move is primarily to foster intra-Africa trade, integration and socio-economic development.
A new chairperson will also be elected against the backdrop that the incumbent Dr. Dlamini Zuma has earlier disclosed that she would not be seeking a second term in office. It is believed that she would be returning to play a role in South African politics.