Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 31 January 2017:- The Stone laying ceremony of the CISSA Headquarters took place in Addis-Ababa on Tuesday, January 31st, 2017 in the sideline of the 28th AU Summit holding at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The construction site of the CISSA head office was graciously offered by the Government of Ethiopia to host the CISSA Secretariat among others.

The event in Addis Ababa was hosted by the President of Equatorial Guinea, H.E. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in the presence of H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Omar al-Bashir the President of the Republic of Sudan, H.E. Smaїl Chergui, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Executives of CISSA amongst other officials.

Addressing the dignitaries the Equatorial Guinea President, who pledged to bear the cost of the new offices estimated at $20 Million USD, highlighted the fact that Africa needs to take its destiny into its own hands and further noted that, in the last few years, Africa has been plagued with security threats evident in wars and terrorism, hence; it is the responsibilities of African leaders to combine their efforts and resources to fight these threats.

On his part, Commissioner Chergui, expressed satisfaction and said he “is proud to be associated with this construction project of an African Union Institution donated by an African Union Member country which underscores the need for synergy by the government and people of Africa to contribute to strengthening continental Institutions. This is a strong step forward to providing African solutions to African problems.” Noted the Commissioner.

The Executive Secretary of CISSA in his speech thanked the Government of Equatorial Guinea and its President whom he says was “the brainchild of the noble idea to create the Institution known as the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA)”. He also thanked the Federal Democratic republic of Ethiopia, who in 2015, donated to CISSA a 32,000 square meters piece of land for the construction of the CISSA headquarters.

The event concluded with a group picture of the Heads of States and Senior Officials present in front of the plaque commemorating the contribution of H.E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo pledge to build this Headquarter.

Worth noting that, CISSA was established on 26 August 2004 in Abuja, Nigeria by Heads of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa. At the January 2005 AU Mid-Term Assembly of the Union, the Heads of State and Government endorsed the establishment of CISSA through Decision 52. The creation of CISSA was necessitated by the need to share Intelligence and Security Services in Africa, which have become transnational in nature and therefore require borderless cooperation and collaboration among and between Intelligence and Security Services in Africa.

Note to Editor

The CISSA was established in 2004 to provide the African Union Commission (AUC) and its Member States with timely and insightful intelligence, which would assist them in making informed decisions. It is a platform where Member Services exchange intelligence, expertise and experiences while dealing with common threats that affect the continent.

Media Contact:

Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information Division, AUC/ Faith Adhiambo | Communications and Public Relations Officer | African Union Commission I E-mail: ochiengj@africa-union.org I faiadhis@gmail.com/ Djeinaba Kane | Editorial Officer | African Union Commission I E-mail: KaneD@africa-union.org I

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

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

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