12 Jul 2016

The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, will lead Botswana delegation to the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union scheduled for Rwanda July 17-18.

A press release from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation states that the summit will be held under the theme: African Year of Human Rights with a particular focus on Women Rights, to commemorate the milestones in gender equality and women empowerment.

It states that the summit will also focus on the financing of the African Union (AU), peace and security in Africa as well as the election and appointment of members of the African Union Commission (AUC) and the judges of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR).

Other highlights include launch of the African electronic Passport and the Mid-Term Report of the African Women Decade.

The Assembly of the Heads of State and Government is preceded by the 32nd Ordinary Session of Permanent Representatives Committee from July 10-12 and the 29th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council from July 13-15, which Botswana’s Permanent Representative to the African Union and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi will attend.

As the candidate for the Southern African region, Dr Venson-Moitoi will also compete in the election and appointment of the chairperson of the AUC to succeed Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

The Vice-President is expected to depart Gaborone on July 15 while Dr Venson-Moitoi departed on July 9. The Vice-President and his entourage is expected to return back home on July 19. ENDS