Jun.14.2015 - Jun.15.2015 MEDIA ADVISORY/25th AU SUMMIT

Twenty Fifth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union

What: Twenty Fifth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union

When: 14-15 June 2015
The official opening ceremony will be held on 14th June starting at 11:30am
Highlights for media on the 14th will include:
• Welcome remarks by H.E. Mr. Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa
• H.E. Mr. Robert Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Chairman of the African Union, declares the beginning of the Session
• AU Anthem by a South African Choir
• Statement by H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union
• Statement by H.E. Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine and Chairman of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee
• Opening Statement by H.E. Mr. Robert Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Chairman of the African Union
• Statements by the newly elected and Outgoing Heads of State and Government )N.B.: list to be confirmed)
• A group photo opportunity will be available immediately after the opening ceremony

Highlights for the 15th June will include
• A press conference by the Chairperson of the Union and the Chairperson of the Commission will take place immediately after the closing ceremony of the Assembly session

Who: The Assembly will be attended by Heads of State and Government (or their representatives) of the 54 AU member states

Where: The Pavillion. 5th Floor. Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

Objectives: The Assembly will discuss the theme of the summit i.e. Year of Women Empowerment and Development Towards Agenda 2063. The Heads of State and Government will adopt the budget of the AU, consider the report of the ministerial retreat on the first ten year implementation plan of Agenda 2063, consider the report of the ad hoc ministerial committee on the scale of assessment, and discuss the issue of integration with a focus on free movement of people, goods and services.
Other reports to be considered by the Heads of State and Government during their meeting will include:
• Report of the AU Commission on the Ebola Crisis
• Report of the Peace and Security Council on its activities and the State of Peace and Security in Africa, including Terrorism, Radical Extremism and Africa’s Response
• Governance (with focus on African Governance Architecture and Elections)
• Report of the Commission on the Situation in Middle East and Palestine

The Assembly will appoint 6 members of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) and 3 members of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)

After discussing some issues raised by member states, the leaders will proceed to adopt the decisions and recommendations of the 27th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council before adopting the decisions and declarations of the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly.

On the 15th of June, a final press conference will be held soon after the closing ceremony of the summit. All media personnel are invited to the press conference.

Media contact:
Mrs Wynne Musabayana | Deputy Head of Communication and Information Division | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 78 44 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Join the conversation on the 25th AU Summit following our hashtags #25thAUSummit, #women4agenda2063.

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia
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