MEDIA ADVISORY NOTE FOR THE 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

THEME OF THE SUMMIT

“Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation”

Important dates:

22nd – 23rd January 2018: 35th Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee

25th – 26th January 2018: 32nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council

28th – 29th January 2018: 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union

NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST

THIS ADVISORY IS SUBJECT TO UPDATES

1. ACCREDITATION FOR MEDIA PERSONNEL BASED OUTSIDE ETHIOPIA

All journalists will apply online. The media accreditation form is available on http://au.int/summit/30/accreditation

Once journalists receive confirmation of their application from the Directorate of Information and Communication (DIC), they should print it and, along with their application documents and passport copy, take it to Ethiopian Embassy in their country. Documents should be taken to the PUBLIC DIPLOMACY CENTER and not the visa center.

The documents will be processed by the Ethiopian government authorities though their channels and journalists will receive their visas from their points of application.

All journalists will be issued with journalist visas. No journalist will be allowed to attend the summit on a business or tourist visa.

ACCREDITATION FOR JOURNALISTS APPLYING FROM COUNTRIES WHERE THERE IS NO ETHIOPIAN EMBASSY

Journalists from countries where there is no Ethiopian embassy should fill in the visa on arrival form available on the AU website: www.au.int

Once received, DIC will forward it to the Ethiopian Government Communication Office for processing as per the regulations.

ACCREDITATION FOR JOURNALISTS WHO ARE ON MISSION IN COUNTRIES WHERE THERE IS NO ETHIOPIAN EMBASSY

Media personnel who are on mission where there is no Ethiopian embassy should observe the following regulations:

Their organization should facilitate the process for them. Their residence card should be attached to their application documents.

They should go, in person, to collect their visa from their country of residence.

Three methods of accreditation are available for journalists applying from outside Ethiopia.

1.1. Online system:

The online accreditation form is available at

http://au.int/summit/30/accreditation

1.2. E-mail:

After completing the accreditation form, the form and scanned copies of all the required documents should be sent via e-mail to Mr. Molalet Tsedeke on: AUsummit@africa-union.org

1.3. Mail and fax:

After completing the accreditation form, the form and all the required documents should be sent to:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke

Directorate of Information and Communication African Union Commission

PO Box 3243 Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Tel:+251115182014 +251115182558:

E-mail: AUSummit@africa-union.org

Required documents to accompany application form

• Two passport size photographs not more than six months old;

• A letter of assignment on a letterhead from the journalist’s organization indicating his/ her function;

• Copy of a valid professional press card or equivalent identification

It is also advisable to carry hard copies of all the required documents in case of any necessary checks. Applications should reach the Directorate before 18 January 2018.

2. ACCREDITATION FOR MEDIA PERSONNEL BASED IN ETHIOPIA

All media personnel operating from within Ethiopia must apply for accreditation through the Government Communication Office by providing the following information:

• Full Names (as in ID or Passport)

• ID or Passport Number

• Name of Media organization

• Designation (Reporter, Photographer etc)

• Current media/ press badge

• Contact Numbers

Email address

The above information must be provided before 18th January 2018 to the following officials:

Government Communication Office

Mr. Shambel Tilhun

Tel: 251 911 747313

E-mail: mediarltn@gmail.com

Mr. Daniel Mikre

Tel: 251 913 525229

E-mail: mediarltn@gmail.com

Ms. Bedrya Wulchafo

Tel : 251 911 030404

E-mail : mediarltn@gmail.com

Ms. Aynadis Getenet

Tel: 251 911 88 20 31

E-mail: mediarltn@gmail.com

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office

Mr. Chala Dejenu

Tel. 251 91051 86 69

E –mail: chala.dejenu@mfa.gov.et

3. WHAT TO DO IN ETHIOPIA

Journalists will need to get two badges.

3.1. The Government press badge will be issued by the government authorities. This involves being photographed before the card is processed. Journalists will be advised in due course of the accreditation venue. This badge will allow access into the AU compound.

3.2. AU Conference badge: After getting the government issued press badge, journalists will need to go to the African Union Commission to get their Conference badges. This badge will give them access into the conference rooms during the Summit.

3.3. Journalists are advised to make sure they arrive in Ethiopia in good time so as to have the documentation done before the meetings start.

3.4. Journalists are also advised to arrive at Summit venues early to ensure that they clear all entry procedures before the meetings start.

4. YELLOW FEVER CARDS

4.1. Yellow fever cards will be required at the ports of entry for everyone travelling from yellow fever designated countries.

5. CUSTOMS CLEARANCE FOR MEDIA EQUIPMENT

Accredited media personnel bringing technical equipment with them to Ethiopia will be subject to full Customs Control. Journalists are requested to send their list of equipment (two copies) together with their application for accreditation. (See media equipment form on the AU website).

Journalists wishing to bring in live broadcasting equipment or to request live transmission facilities should contact

Mr. Habte Gemeda

Coordinator; Satellite and Television Facilities (+251-911 677952) (+251 923 807 876)

Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation

E-mail Gemedaetv@yahoo.com

6. MEDIA FACILITIES

A media center with facilities for print, online and electronic media will be available at the Summit venue. Access to media facilities will be available only to accredited media representatives.

REQUESTS FOR INTERVIEWS WITH AUC LEADERSHIP

Journalists wishing to interview the leadership of the AU Commission during the 30th AU Summit should submit their requests to Mrs Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information of the AUC on YambouE@africa-union.org; Tel: +251 911 36 11 85

MEDIA BRIEFINGS BY AU LEADERSHIP

Briefings by leaders of the various African Union organs and programmes will take place at the conference center. Journalists will be given advance notice of the briefing time, venue and speakers.

Other partner organizations of the AU occasionally request facilities through the DIC for media briefings during the Summit. Journalists will be notified of such briefings through postings in the media center.

MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE SUMMIT

Opening and closing sessions during the meetings are open to journalists, depending on availability of space within the meeting rooms. Media practitioners will be informed of how to enter the plenary halls in the following ways:

A guideline will be circulated to all media on the AU database and on the AU website.

A briefing session will be held for all media during the Summit. A notice will be circulated regarding the time and date of the briefing.

10. LIVE STREAMING

Opening sessions and press conferences of the Summit will be streaming live. The live stream link will be disseminated closer to the dates for information and for the public to follow live all the open sessions worldwide.

These feeds will be available through the media centre. Media will also be notified of all live streamed meetings via the website and notices posted in the media center.

11. TELEPHONES AND FAXES

Telephone facilities will be available on a commercial basis.

12. TELEVISION AND RADIO

Media will be notified if live links to their national broadcasters will be available. Inquiries in this regard should be sent to Mr Gamal Karrar on: GamalK@africa-union.org, Direct Tel.: +251 11 5182573.

13. ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation will be on self-arrangement basis. Journalists are advised to make their booking early to avoid last minute inconveniences. A list of Addis Ababa hotels will soon be available on the African Union website.

14. SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS ENQUIRIES

General enquiries on the arrangements made for the media for the Summit should be directed to Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou, Head of Information of the AUC, E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org, Tel: +251911361185

For further information:

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Website: http://www.au.int

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