What: Official opening ceremony of the thirty five (35^th) Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

Highlights of the Opening Ceremony:

• Opening Statements by:
• The Chairperson of the AU Commission
• The Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
• The Outgoing Chairperson of the Assembly of the African Union
• The Incoming Chairperson of the Assembly of the African Union
• The Secretary General of the United Nations
• The President of the State of Palestine
• The Secretary General of the League of Arab States

• Announcement of the Bureau of the Assembly of the African Union for 2022 and the Chairperson of the African Union for 2023.

• Launch of the African Union Theme of the Year 2022: “Building Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: Strengthen Agriculture, Accelerate the Human Capital, Social and Economic Development”

• Group Photo of the AU Heads of the State and Governments with Members of the Commission.

Who: The 35^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly is organized by the African Union Commission (AUC).

When: The AU Assembly Session will be held from 5 to 6 February 2022. The official opening ceremony will be held on 5^th February 10:00 am (EAT).

Where: African Union Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

How: The AU Assembly Session will be opened in the presence of Heads of State and Government from the 55 AU Member States, the leadership and officials of the AU Commission, official of AU organs and bodies, as well as Heads and Representatives of the Regional Economic Communities.

Objectives:

The 35^th Meeting of the AU Assembly will consider the Report of the 40^th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council held on 2-3 February 2022. The Assembly will also consider different reports, under its three sessions: Session on Peace, Security and Governance, Session on African Citizen Well-Being: Health, Nutrition and Food Security, and Session on Regional Integration through A Green Inclusive and Resilient Economic Recovery. 

The Assembly will also consider other items on its agenda including: the Annual Report of the Union and its Organs Including the Specific Thematic Issues by the Heads of States, Champions, the Decision of Granting Israel an Observer Status to the African Union, and the draft Legal Instruments.

Additionally, the Session will appoint the following on the AU organs: A Female Vice President of the Pan African University Council, fifteen (15) Members of the PSC, a female Member of the AUABC from the Northern Region, Members of the Panel of the Wise, and the CEO of AUDA-NEPAD. 

Journalists are invited to cover the opening and closing ceremonies of the thirty five (35^th) Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union on Saturday, 5^th and Sunday 6^th February 2022, either live or through the live stream link: https://livestream.com/africanunion/35th-ordinary-session-au-assembly

For further information please contact:

Mrs. Wynne Musabayana| Head of Communication Division| Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission |Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail:MusabayanaW@africa-union.org| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Directorate of Information and Communication, WhattsApp +251 911 630 631, E-mail: Molalett@africa-union.org

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

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Hashtag : 35th #AUSummit

Summit Main entry Point on the AU Website : https://au.int/en/summit/35