South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki and his Nigerian counterpart Olusegun Obasanjo were among the first leaders to arrive at the conference centre where the third ordinary session of the assembly of the African Union is taking place.
The presidents were greeted by a phalanx of media representatives — estimated by officials to number about 500 — in the foyer of the United Nations conference centre in Addis Ababa.
A brass band from the Ethiopian police force and a traditional Ethiopian band welcomed delegates on a wet and rainy Tuesday morning.
Among those who are not expected to attend are Libya’s Moammar Gaddafi. Unconfirmed reports also suggest that the Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Joseph Kabila will not attend. His no-show could scupper plans for an AU-brokered mini-summit to be held with his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame to ease tensions between the two countries.
Tuesday’s meeting will be officially opened by Joachim Chissano, president of Mozambique and current chairperson of the AU.
During the three-day summit delegates will discuss a variety of issues. Topics for discussion include selecting the seat of the Pan African Parliament, a report on the preparation of a meeting of African intellectuals and the African diaspora, and consider a report on the AU symbols, including its flag, logo and anthem.
The opening day will also see the election of a new chairperson and the presentation of the vision, mission and strategic plan of the AU. – Sapa