ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, January 25, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
In preparation of the 26th African Union (au) Summit billed for 30 and 31 January 2016 at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the AU Commission is organising a ministerial retreat of the Executive Council in Mekelle, Ethiopia from 24 to 26 January 2016. During the retreat, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs/External Relations and other ministers or authorities duly designated by their Government will brainstorm and exchange views on the implementation of Agenda 2063.
The Mekelle local Authorities and the Foreign Affairs Minister of Ethiopia are expected to deliver welcome remarks during the official opening of the retreat, on 24th January 2016 as from 3:00 pm, followed by the opening statement of the Chairperson of the AU Commission and that of the Chairperson of the Executive Council. The opening ceremony will be opened to interested media willing to cover the event.
Later, the Ministers will reconvene in close session to discuss different items on their agenda including updates on Agenda 2063 Ten Year Implementation Plan, its domestication and flagship projects as well as the accountability framework. They will be briefed on the status of free movement of people and the state of the African tourism sector, among other issues of relevance to the development and integration of the continent.
Worth recalling that the theme of the 26th AU Summit is: “2016: African Year of Human Rights with a particular focus on the Rights of Women”.
