Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The 36th ordinary summit of African Heads of State and Government kicked off Saturday as South Sudan’s delegates in Addis Ababa are expected to persuade other continental leaders to pressurize the UN Security Council to lift the arms embargo.
The 36th African Union summit scheduled for today is expected to bring the heads of state and governments of the 55 AU member states together to deliberate the issues affecting the continent.
According to the program, leaders will be meeting under the theme “The Year of AfCFTA (Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation)”.
The summit will focus on ongoing issues and make far-reaching decisions on a variety of political and socioeconomic issues in order to promote and advance the welfare and quality of life of African citizens.
Meanwhile, South Sudan’s delegation to the summit will be headed by Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi, who is expected to present the status of the implementation of the revitalised peace agreement, including the obstacles.
“Abdelbagi will, on behalf of President H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, deliver a speech covering the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement, regional peace, and acceleration of the free trade agreement on the continent of Africa,” according to the statement read out on state-owned media, SSBC on Thursday.
Abdelbagi is expected to discuss the challenges hindering the full implementation of the peace agreement and the need for the lifting of the arms embargo to speed up the deployment of forces to curtail insecurity.
Before his departure from the Juba International Airport on Thursday, the VP said the summit will also focus on addressing issues in African countries.
“I am leading the government delegation to Addis Ababa for the 36th African Union summit, focusing on addressing insecurity in African countries, strengthening stagnant health and water systems, and addressing climate change,” he said.
However, some of the issues will fall under the institutional reforms of the African Union: peace and security and the missed deadline to silence guns, global financial and energy issues; the food crisis; the response to COVID-19; climate change, Agenda 2063, among others.
According to the crisis group, the continent has many things to discuss, including boosting the African Union’s institutional capacity, calming inter-state tensions, supporting the DRC’s election, making Sudan Phase II a success, and nurturing Ethiopia’s fragile peace agreement.
The United States also sent the delegation led by Molly Phee, the US assistant secretary for Africa, and other members with hopes to follow up on the implementation of the recently concluded US-Africa summit conducted last year.
According to today’s program, the two African heads of state and government will focus on accelerating the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Assembly of Heads of State and Government will also look into continual problems and make far-reaching decisions on various political and socio-economic areas.
These will include ending the conflicts, fighting hunger, solving internal disputes, among other issues bedevilling Africa.
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
