Addis ababa: More than 10 heads of state have already confirmed their attendance at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly, dedicated to strengthening conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms in Africa, scheduled to take place in Luanda on 29 and 30 August.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the information was disclosed by the Summit's spokesperson, Miguel C©sar Bembe, who also announced the confirmation of more than nine prime ministers, as well as several vice-presidents and ministers. The Angolan ambassador to Ethiopia explained that confirmations are still being received through the online registration system created for the event, despite some delays in the process.
'There is strong momentum and significant participation in the confirmations we have received. We can already consider that there is a substantial turnout for this Summit,' Bembe said. He noted that the response from member states reflects the importance attached to the initiative, which aims to strengthen Africa's capacity to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts.
According to the diplomat, this will be the first time in the history of the African Union that an extraordinary session of Heads of State and Government has been devoted specifically to conflict prevention, management, and resolution on the continent. The spokesperson recalled that Angola was also behind the 16th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on 28 May 2022, which focused on terrorism and unconstitutional changes of government in Africa.
The Luanda Summit will be exclusively African in character and will focus on strengthening the political, legal, and financial mechanisms already in place within the continental organisation for conflict prevention and resolution. 'We, as Africans, must take the lead on this matter,' Miguel Bembe stressed.
Although international partners have not been invited, as the issue is considered an internal matter of the continental organisation, the meeting will include the participation of African stakeholders from the business and financial sectors. Among the invited participants are representatives of the Afreximbank, Econet Global, and Cassava Technologies, among other institutions.
Miguel Bembe explained that the involvement of the private sector would also enable discussions on financing African mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution. He further clarified that the Summit is not intended to create new mechanisms but rather to strengthen the existing instruments within the African Union to address the continent's peace and security challenges.
