President Thabo Mbeki to depart for African Union Summit, Khartoum, Sudan
22 January 2006
Tshwane - South African President Thabo Mbeki will later today, Sunday 22 January 2006, depart for Khartoum, Sudan, for the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government Summit scheduled from Monday to Tuesday, 23 - 24 January 2006.
President Thabo Mbeki will be supported by Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma who is already in Sudan where she led the South African delegation on to the meeting of the AU's Executive Council of Foreign Ministers.
President Thabo Mbeki will participate in the summit within the context of South Africa's commitment to building and strengthening the institutions of the AU with a view to the consolidation of the African agenda.
AU Heads of State and Government will receive and deliberate upon recommendations of the AU Executive Council of Foreign Ministers that discussed the following reports:
a. The Peace and Security Council including the election of new members;
b. New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD);
c. Political and economic integration of the Continent;
d. Reform of the United Nations System including its Security Council;
e. Africa-France Summit;
f. Pan-African Parliament;
g. The African Diaspora; and
h. The budget.
President Thabo Mbeki and Minister Dlamini Zuma are expected to return to South Africa on Wednesday, 25 January 2006, ahead of Minister Dlamini Zuma's scheduled hosting of the Non-Aligned Movement's (NAM) Ministerial Troika (South Africa - Cuba - Malaysia) in Hermanus outside Cape Town scheduled from Thursday to Friday, 26 - 27 January 2006.
Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
22 January 2006