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By Julius N. Uma
January 12, 2011 (JUBA) - South Sudan will later this month participate in the 18th ordinary session of the African Union (AU) Summit, scheduled from 23 - 30 January in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
The event, according to an AU communiqué obtained by Sudan Tribune, will commence with the 23rd ordinary session of the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) under the theme “Boosting Intra-African Trade”.
South Sudan gained membership of the AU shortly after its 9 July 2011 independence, necessitated by an over overwhelming vote for separation during a referendum held in January 2011.
Also expected at the summit, according to the PRC agenda, will be an exchange of views between ambassadors as well as specific reports, including those of the sub-committees on: structures; multilateral cooperation; contributions; economic and trade matters. Reports from the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as well as from the Special Emergency Assistance Fund for Drought and Famine in Africa (SEAF) will be discussed.
“They will consider the working documents and draft decisions in preparation for the 20th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council,” reads the AU’s 10 January statement.
Also expected will be deliberations by ministers of external affairs or authorities designated by respective member states, on the different reports of the ministerial meetings organised by the AU Commission during the last six month.
“They will consider the activity report of the Commission; the recommendations of the PRC on the implementation of previous decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly; and the report of the ministerial committee on candidatures,” says the statement.
However, while the summit shall witness the official inauguration of the new AU conference centre as one of its high moments, the assembly will also pay tribute to the late Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Prof. Wangari Maathai and Elisabeth Tankeu, the former AU Commissioner for trade and industry.
At the 18th summit, the AU communiqué further states that the AU heads of states and government will consider the recommendations of the Executive Council on the report of the Commission on the implementation of previous Decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly and the report of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) on its activities and the state of peace and security in Africa, including the activities of the ’Panel of the Wise’.
Meanwhile, at the Addis Ababa summit, member states are also expected to elect the chairperson and deputy of the AU commission, given that the current bureau of the African body ends its four year mandate in January 2012.
The Executive Council will, in addition, elect the Commissioners of the African Union, 10 members of the PSC and one judge of the AU ad-hoc administrative tribunal.
(ST)
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