Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Luanda, Angola, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).
Shettima was received upon arrival by senior Angolan government officials and members of the Nigerian delegation attending the high-level continental meeting.
Among the Nigerian officials at the airport were Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa (retd.); Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Angola, Ambassador Maxy Ogbede; Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh; Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; and Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
The summit, themed “Strengthening Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa,” is bringing together African leaders to review existing mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts and develop practical responses to emerging security challenges.
Deliberations are expected to focus on early warning and early action, preventive diplomacy, coordination between the AU, member states and Regional Economic Communities, as well as strengthening the role of the AU Peace and Security Council.
The summit will also consider sustainable African financing for peace and security, stronger measures against terrorism and violent extremism, and ways to improve the effectiveness of the African Peace and Security Architecture and African Governance Architecture.
Ahead of the leaders’ meeting, the 26th Extraordinary Session of the AU Executive Council was held in Luanda on Saturday, with foreign ministers and other senior officials meeting to prepare the agenda for the Heads of State and Government session.
Following his arrival, Shettima received a briefing from Odumegwu-Ojukwu and officials of the Nigerian Mission on key issues expected to feature prominently during the summit.
Nigeria is expected to use the meeting to reaffirm its commitment to continental peace, security, conflict prevention and stronger African-led mechanisms for resolving regional crises.
