The summit, which closes tomorrow, kicked off last Sunday with the 32nd ordinary session of the ambassadors to the AU discussing the agenda for the heads of state summit

In Summary

Sudanese President Omar-Al-Bashir, who is wanted by the ICC, is also expected to attend the summit
High on the agenda of the presidents’ meeting is election of the next AU Commission chairperson
Uganda’s Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa and other senior officials in the ministry arrived in Kigali early in the week to help with preparations and lobbying

KAMPALA
African heads of state are meeting today in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, for the 27th African Union (AU) Summit.
The summit, which closes tomorrow, kicked off last Sunday with the 32nd ordinary session of the ambassadors to the AU discussing the agenda for the heads of state summit.

High on the agenda of the presidents’ meeting is election of the next AU Commission chairperson to replace Ms Nkosozana Dlamini Zuma, launch of the AU passport and adoption of the motion to quit the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Also on the agenda are deliberations on the AU’s financing of peace and security missions on the continent, the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) projects such as Aids Watch Africa and the African Trade and Implementation of the Kigali Water Action Plan.

By press time yesterday, leaders who had arrived included South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, Equatorial Guinea’s Theodore Obiang Nguema, Chad’s Idris Derby, Niger’s Mahamadour Issoufu and Ethiopian prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn.

Other principals that had arrived include Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, Namibia’s Hage Geinob, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Ivory Coast’s Allasanne Ouattara, Macky Sall of Senegal, Faustin Archange of Central African Republic and Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali.

Sudanese President Omar-Al-Bashir, who is wanted by the ICC, is also expected to attend the summit.

Also already present were the UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, Lesotho’s deputy prime minister Mothetjoa Metsing, Botswana’s vice president Eric Mokgweetsi, former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa, former Malian president Alpha Konare, and other dignitaries.

Mr Ban ki Moon, according to diplomatic sources, is expected to hold a meeting with the leaders on the escalating crisis in South Sudan. Fresh fighting broke out in South Sudan a week ago in Juba.

According to the UN agency for refugees, UNHRC, about 36,000 people have been displaced internally and more than 300 have died. About 100,000 have fled to neighbouring countries.

Yesterday, Mr Ban ki Moon met the Algerian minister of foreign affairs, Ramtane Lamamra and the two discussed the role of the AU High Level Ad hoc Committee on South Sudan and suggestions of the UN Security Council, notably to implement an arms embargo; impose sanctions on individuals responsible for the latest fighting and ensuring reinforcement of the UN Mission in South Sudan.

AU Chairperson race

Uganda’s Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa and other senior officials in the ministry arrived in Kigali early in the week to help with preparations and lobbying for the AU chairperson voting on Sunday.

Uganda’s Dr Specioza Wandira Kazibwe, also the choice for Eastern Africa, faces competition from Agapito Mba Mokuy, the foreign minister of Equatorial Guinea, also the choice of Central Africa and Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s Dr Pelomi Venson-Moitoi, the Foreign Affairs minister of Botswana.