Shettima Lands in Angola for AU Summit

Vice President Kashim Shettima has touched down in Luanda, Angola. He is there to stand in for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

When he arrived in Luanda, Mr Shettima was welcomed by top Angolan officials and members of the Nigerian team already present for the important meeting.

Among those who welcomed the Vice President were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa; Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Angola, Maxy Ogbede; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh; Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi; and Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, along with other senior officials.

The Extraordinary Summit has the theme “Strengthening Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.” It aims to bring African leaders together to look at how to improve the ways the continent prevents and resolves conflicts. They will also discuss practical steps for tackling new peace and security challenges.

This meeting in Luanda will help to boost Africa’s strategy for early warnings and actions, preventive diplomacy, and coordination among the African Union, member states, and Regional Economic Communities. It will also work on reinforcing the role of the AU Peace and Security Council.

The agenda will cover topics like sustainable financing for peace and security in Africa, better responses to terrorism and violent extremism, and ways to make the African Peace and Security Architecture and African Governance Architecture more effective.

Before the Heads of State and Government meeting, the 26th Extraordinary Session of the AU Executive Council took place in Luanda on Saturday. This gathering brought together foreign ministers and senior officials from member states to set the stage for the leaders’ discussions.

After he arrived, VP Shettima received a briefing from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and officials from the Nigerian Mission. They talked about the key issues expected to be discussed at the Summit.