President Paul Kagame has jetted into the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa today to attend the 24th annual African Union Summit. Held under the theme Women Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s agenda 2063’, the two-day summit brings together heads of states and stakeholders to discuss key priority sectors for the continent. Video: President Kagame arrives in Addis Ababa to attend African Union Summit- Addis Ababa, 28 January. Source: Paul Kagame/YouTubeDuring this year’s summit, Rwanda is set to present a report on the Kigali Action Plan on Water and Sanitation Goals in Africa. Under the leadership of the Government of Rwanda and in cooperation with the AfDB and the German Cooperation Agency, the plan aims to ensure access to water and sanitation to at least five million people in 10 member countries of the African Union. The last AU Summit held in Malabo selected Burundi, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan as beneficiaries of the Kigali Action Plan. During today’s session, members of the Rwanda delegation including Minister of State in charge of Energy and Water, Kamayirese Germaine, hosted luncheon to mobilize resources to be used towards the Kigali Action Plan. As the first summit since the Ebola epidemic last year, the meeting is likely to discuss further steps to bring cases to zero. In November 2014, a solidarity campaign was endorsed by telecom operators in Africa to support deployment of health workers. To date, nine Rwandan medical personnel joined this initiative through the Rwanda Medical Council and are now deployed in Liberia. In the next two days, the 24th Summit will discuss issues including peace and security on the continent, adopting Agenda 2063 as well as steps to move towards African Union being funded by member states. As an integral part of strengthening peace and security, regional security organs have begun their operationalization. In the case of East Africa, the East African Standby Force attained full operational capability on November 22nd of last year. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Louise Mushikiwabo,has met with AU Chairperson Dr. Dlamini Zuma in preparation of the African Union Summit to be hosted in Rwanda in 2016.
