January 28, 2017 - Days before the annual Assembly of the Heads of State and Government meeting, the 30th ordinary session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council opened in Addis Ababa on Thursday, according to the Reporter
The session was officially opened with a remark of the outgoing Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (PhD).
In her remark, the Chairperson underscored that to meet the goals of Agenda 2063 member countries needs to revive and strengthen the spirit of Pan Africanism across the continent.
She further said that Africa needs to transform through economic integration by honoring the AU’s decision to establish a continental free trade area (CFTA) by 2017.
The Executive Council will prepare the agenda of the AU Summit with appropriate recommendations for consideration by the Heads of State and Government summit scheduled to take place from January 30-31, 2017.
The meeting of the Council brought together ministers from the AU member states, the permanent representative committee based in Addis Ababa, representatives of UNECA and heads of AU organs, among others.
The 28th ordinary session of the summit of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government will chart the continent’s development agenda, including the appointment of a new chairperson for the African Union Commission.
One of the key issues at the meeting will be election of a new leader for the African Union Commission. (Reporter)