Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Luanda, Angola, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).
The summit, themed “Strengthening Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa,” will bring African leaders together to review existing continental security mechanisms and develop practical responses to emerging peace and security challenges.
Shettima arrived in the Angolan capital on Saturday and was received by senior officials of the host government and members of the Nigerian delegation already in Luanda for the high-level meeting, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha.
Among those who received the Vice President were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd); Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh; and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
Others included the Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Angola, Amb. Maxy Ogbede, and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, among other senior government officials.
The summit is expected to focus on strengthening Africa’s early warning and early action mechanisms, preventive diplomacy and coordination among the AU, its member states and Regional Economic Communities.
African leaders will also deliberate on ways to reinforce the role of the AU Peace and Security Council as the continent continues to face conflicts, terrorism, violent extremism and other emerging security threats.
Discussions will further cover sustainable African financing for peace and security operations and measures to improve the effectiveness of the African Peace and Security Architecture and African Governance Architecture.
Ahead of the Heads of State and Government meeting, the 26th Extraordinary Session of the AU Executive Council was held in Luanda on Saturday, bringing together foreign ministers and senior officials from AU member states to prepare the ground for the leaders’ deliberations.
Shortly after his arrival, Shettima received a briefing from Odumegwu-Ojukwu and officials of the Nigerian Mission on key issues expected to dominate discussions at the summit.
The Vice President is expected to present Nigeria’s position on behalf of President Tinubu and participate in deliberations aimed at strengthening continental cooperation on peace and security.
Shettima had departed Abuja for Luanda earlier on Saturday, with the Presidency saying Nigeria would use the summit to reaffirm its commitment to peacebuilding, conflict prevention and the peaceful resolution of disputes across Africa.
