The 42nd African Union (AU) ordinary session of the Executive Council begins today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The two-day conference brings together ministers of foreign affairs and external relations from the 55 member states forming the Union.
The Council sits to consider the draft agenda, decisions and declarations with appropriate recommendations for consideration by the heads of state and government during the 36th ordinary session set for February 18-19.
President William Ruto is among those who will be attending the summit.
Top on the agenda of the council of ministers is also the consideration of the report of the 45th ordinary session of the permanent representatives’ committee held in January.
Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua and Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei have already arrived in Ethiopia.
“The Session will consider the Annual Report of the Union and its organs, report on the operationalisation of Africa CDC and the progress report on the establishment and operationalisation of the Africa Medicines Agency (AMA),” a statement from the Union reads.
An Annual report on the implementation of activities on the roadmap of the AU theme of the year 2022 on nutrition will also come up during the session.
Consideration of the concept note and roadmap of the theme of the year 2023 “Acceleration of AFCFTA implementation,” is also on their agenda.
Also on the list is the evaluation report of the first-ten-year implementation plan (FTYIP) and the development of the agenda 2063 second-ten-year implementation plan (STYIP)
The council will also participate in the election of two judges to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and six members of the AU Advisory Board Against Corruption.
Nomination of three judges to the Administrative Tribunal of the African Union and appointment of a member to the AU Board of External Auditors, for the Two-Year Term, 2022 and 2023.
Other key issues expected to feature during the summit are food security, climate change and regional peace and security.
AU chairperson Moussa Faki is among other senior officials who will grace the opening ceremony.
