On behalf of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will lead the Egyptian delegation to the 36th Ordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), slated February 18-19.

Shoukry will deliver the presidential speech on the AU Peace and Security Council’s (PSC) activity report, and will also give a speech on behalf of President Sisi during a meeting of the Committee of the African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid told MENA on Saturday 18/02/2023.

Cairo’s priorities for the AU summit are all about how to deal with the ongoing global economic crisis and its impacts on the continent, and how to consolidate the efforts needed for mobilizing the financial resources for addressing the issues of priority to the continent, face up to peace and security challenges, and promote counter-terrorism efforts, Abu Zeid pointed out.

He said this year’s session, being held under the theme: “Acceleration of AfCFTA Implementation,” is of special importance in light of the subsequent crises the world underwent over the past year and their lingering effects on African states, including the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, a global food crisis, destructive climate change impacts, and the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the summit, African Heads of State and Government will discuss ways to implement of the AfCFTA and the significance of accelerating the finalization of outstanding issues – including, the Rules of Origin and supporting Protocols.

Earlier today, current Chair of the African Union Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, handed over the chairmanship of the AU to the Island State of Comoros.

Source: State Information Service Egypt