Addis ababa: The 48th Ordinary Session of the African Union's (AU) Executive Council is underway in the Ethiopian capital, led by Angolan Foreign Affairs Minister Téte António, who presides over the council. This session gathers Ministers of Foreign Affairs from member states, aiming to prepare for the 39th Ordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, which is set for February 14-16. According to Angola Press News Agency, participants in the meeting are set to evaluate reports, draft decisions, and recommendations on various political, economic, social, and institutional matters. These documents will be presented to the Heads of State and Government for further consideration. The Conference, recognized as the highest deliberative body of the African Union, is anticipated to tackle key strategic issues such as consolidating peace, security, and stability across the continent. Additionally, discussions will encompass topics related to inclusive economic growth, regi onal integration, sustainable development, and the enhancement of democratic governance. The meeting is themed "Ensuring the Sustainable Availability of Water Resources and a Safe Sanitation System to Achieve the Objectives of Agenda 2063." It emphasizes continental priorities regarding sustainable water management and universal access to sanitation services. On the sidelines, Minister Téte António, who arrived in Addis Ababa, intends to engage in bilateral discussions with African counterparts and officials from regional and international entities. These meetings aim to bolster cooperative relations and advance Angola's foreign policy priorities within the African Union framework. Angola's involvement, as it concludes its leadership mandate within the African Union, underscores its dedication to Pan-Africanism ideals, the implementation of Agenda 2063, and reinforcing the African Union as a pivotal instrument for fostering peace, development, and integration across the continent. The African Union, estab lished in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU), is headquartered in Addis Ababa. Its mission focuses on the promotion of integration, peace, security, democracy, and economic development among its 55 member states. As part of its transformative Agenda 2063, the AU notably promotes the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
