Addis, 27 January 2012
President Paul Kagame arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the 18th Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit, scheduled to take place January 29-30. The bi-annual meeting is attended by African Heads of State and Government as well as heads and
representatives of international organizations including the United Nations, that will be represented by Ban Ki Moon, the Secretary General.
President Kagame, will on Monday, January 30, present to the Summit, the report on the 4th High Level Forum on Aid effectiveness that was held last year held in Busan, South Korea. President Kagame was among the African leaders who represented the continent at the high level meeting held November 29th – 1st December 2011.
On the eve of the AU Summit, President Paul Kagame will take part in the inauguration of the newly constructed African Union Conference Centre (AUCC). The USD 150 million complex was China’s donation to the AU in recognition of the friendship between Africa and China. Part of the Agenda for the AU summit is how to boost intra-African Trade as well as the election of Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Commissioners of the AU Commission.
The current chairperson, Jean Ping who was first elected in 2008, is seeking re-election. However, he will have to out-compete Madam Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, South Africa’s Minister of Home Affairs and former wife of President Jacob Zuma