ADDIS ABABA – President Salva Kiir Mayardit has arrived in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to attend the African Union summit of heads of state and government.
Information minister Michael Makuei Lueth said the South Sudanese leader “owes the African Union leaders attending the summit an open mind and will engage them one-by-one on the peace process in the Republic of South Sudan.”
The South Sudan Presidential Press Unit (SSPPU) announced in a statement this afternoon that “President Salva Kiir and his accompanying delegation arrived in Addis Ababa Ethiopia on Saturday morning for the 2020 African Union heads of state and government summit.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari are among some of the leaders who traveled on Friday to attend the annual Summit.
The 2020 AU summit is held under the theme, “Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development.”
As a flagship project of Agenda 2063, a blueprint for prosperous and peaceful Africa by 2063, “Silencing the guns by 2020” was adopted by the AU heads of state during the 50th anniversary of the then Organization for African Union (OAU) now African Union (AU) in 2013.
The continental bloc hopes to bring a stop to all conflicts in the continent in order to achieve stability, which is vital for the implementation of the Agenda 2063.
During the Heads of State Summit, South Africa will take over the AU chairship from Egypt.
The South African presidency last month outlined its plan for the role, which includes; promoting peace in Africa, pursuing economic development, championing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and amplifying the calls for gender equality and promoting peace.
Kiir and his accompanying delegation will also participate in IGAD heads of state and government sideline meeting to discuss the progress in the implementation of South Sudan Revitalized peace agreement.
The minister of Cabinet affairs Dr. Martin Elia Lomoro, Minister of Foreign affairs and international cooperation Awut Deng Achuil and Minister of information and communication Michael Makuei Lueth are accompanying President Salva Kiir to Addis Ababa to participate in the 2020 AU heads of state and government summit.
