News24.com | Ramaphosa, ministers attend AU summit in Ethiopia

President Cyril Ramaphosa arrives in Ethiopia for the 36th African Union Assembly.

• President Cyril Ramaphosa is attending the 36th African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• He will be chairing the AU Peace and Security Council, where he will address the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• The theme of the meeting is The Year of AfCFTA: Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation.

President Cyril Ramaphosa and several ministers in his Cabinet are attending the 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Ethiopia this weekend. 

A statement on Friday, the Presidency announced that Ramaphosa had arrived in Addis Ababa.

He is expected to chair the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) and discuss the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on Friday.

News24 previously reported on the conflict between Rwandan forces and the Forces Armées de la République Démocratique du Congo in Kitshanga.

Ramaphosa is also expected to present reports on peace and security at the two-day session.

In addition, he will discuss and present the AU's response to Covid-19 and "concrete actions undertaken" on the continent, as well as the progress of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Infrastructure Championing Initiative.

READ | SONA reply: Ramaphosa gaslights nation by glossing over lived realities of South Africans

This year's AU Assembly theme is The Year of AfCFTA: Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation. The AfCFTA agreement focuses on the economic integration of African countries by eliminating tariffs and non-tariff barriers that will promote trade, create jobs and attract investment into Africa. 

The statement stated that heads of state and governments in attendance will confirm their commitment to the AfCFTA along with the rules of origin and supporting protocols. 

"African heads of state and government are expected to reaffirm their commitment to the full implementation of the AfCFTA and the significance of accelerating the finalisation of outstanding issues," read the statement.

A new bureau of the AU Assembly will also be elected for 2023.

Among the ministers who accompanied Ramaphosa were International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, and Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel.

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