AU says satisfied with July Kigali summit preps

President Paul Kagame yesterday met the African Union Commission chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who was in the country for a two-day official visit. Dr Dlamini-Zuma was in the country to assess Rwanda’s preparedness to host the 27th African Union Summit, scheduled to begin on July 10 in Kigali. Dlamini-Zuma said that after touring a number of sites to be used during the summit, they were happy with the ongoing preparations in readiness for the meeting. “Rwanda is hosting the next summit in three weeks time. Yesterday, we had a tour of the facilities, hotels and the conference centre and we are happy that the delegates will be comfortable. We are happy with the overall progress,” Dr Dlamini-Zuma said. She added that a delegation from the African Union would begin arriving in Kigali at the end of this month to test the facilities to be used at the forum. The AU Commission chief said she had briefed the President about the oncoming summit. More than 3,000 high-level delegates are expected to be in attendance at the summit, including about 50 African Heads of State. Dr Dlamini-Zuma. Dlamini-Zuma’s visit comes days after the government reaffirmed that all was set for the summit and that facilities under construction would be ready on time. Foreign Affairs minister Louise Mushikiwabo last week told reporters that the Kigali Convention Centre and the Marriott Hotel were undergoing final touches in readiness for opening in the first week of July. At the summit, African Heads of State and Government will use an African Passport in a bid to show solidarity and promote free movement of Africans within their region and other parts of the continent. A major highlight of the summit will be election of 10 elective positions in the commission’s Secretariat which is entrusted with executive functions. The positions include the commission’s chairperson – who will take over from Dr Dlamini-Zuma –, a deputy chairperson and eight commissioners. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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AU says satisfied with July Kigali summit preps