Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry headed to Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa on Wednesday, to participate in the 33rd African Union (AU) session, followed by an ordinary Summit of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, between 9 and 10 February.
Shoukry will also head the last session of the AU under Egyptian presidency. Egypt will hand over the AU presidency to South Africa starting 10 February.
Cairo worked in 2019 with the AU to achieve economic integration, financial reform, and social development, in addition to building bridges of cultural and civilizational communication between African peoples, the foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed Hafez said.
Hafez added that the meeting is to discuss important issues, including 2019’s theme of resolving forced displacement, refugees and returnees, as well as discussing the new 2020 theme of Silencing the guns, creating conductive conditions for Africa’s development.
He noted that Shoukry is expected to hold bilateral talks with several African counterparts on the sidelines of the summit, in order to discuss bilateral cooperation and African issues of common concern.
Moreover, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is expected to attend the upcoming session, along with Director General of World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
