Tinubu to attend African Union mid-year meeting in Kenya

President Bola Tinubu will on Saturday, depart Abuja for Nairobi, Kenya, to participate in the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union, the Regional Economic Communities, the Regional Mechanisms, and the African Union Member States.

“As the Chairperson of ECOWAS, the Nigerian leader will join Heads of State and Government, Foreign Ministers of the AU Member-States, and high-level dignitaries at the mid-year meeting which will take place on Sunday, July 16,” a statement signed by the Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, read on Friday.

The Statement is titled ‘President Tinubu to attend 5th mid-year coordination meeting of AU in Nairobi, Kenya.’

Alake revealed that the President will present a report on the status of regional integration in ECOWAS, highlighting actions carried out during the period under review by ECOWAS institutions, member-states, the private sector, and other stakeholders to deepen integration through trade, free movement of persons, investment promotion, infrastructure development, peace, security, and stability.

The 5th MYCM, which is convening under the AU’s theme for 2023 christened “Acceleration of African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation,” will bring together the Bureau of the AU Assembly, comprising the Heads of State and Government from Comoros, Botswana, Burundi, and Senegal, as well as the leaders of the eight RECs.

These RECS include ECOWAS chaired by Nigeria, the East African Community, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Southern African Development Community, the Community of Sahel–Saharan States, the Arab Maghreb Union, and the Economic Community of Central African States.

Sunday’s meeting will also involve the African Union Commission and the RMs.

Kenya is President Tinubu’s fourth foreign destination and second in Africa since the start of his administration on May 29, 2023.

So far, he has visited Guinea-Bissau for the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States.

At a meeting held on July 9, Tinubu emerged as Chairman of the regional bloc.

He also visited Paris, France, where he participated in the summit for ‘A New Global Financing Pact’ hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron from June 22-23.

From June 24 – 27, the President was in London for a private visit, where he reportedly held a private session with his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari. He has so far spent 10 days out of the country.

As Chairman of the West African Bloc, Mr. Tinubu’s duties would see him represent the region’s interests in several continental and global fora.

The President, who will be accompanied by senior government officials, is expected to return to the country at the conclusion of the meeting.