Vice President Kashim Shettima leaves Abuja on Saturday for Luanda, Angola, to represent President Bola Tinubu at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
The summit focuses on strengthening Africa’s mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts, with leaders expected to assess existing continental peace and security frameworks and agree on practical measures to improve their effectiveness.
Shettima’s participation is contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, who says the vice president will join African leaders and other stakeholders to deliberate on regional security challenges and strategies for achieving lasting peace and stability.
According to Nkwocha, Shettima will deliver Tinubu’s address at the summit, presenting Nigeria’s position on the issues under consideration and reaffirming the country’s commitment to peace and stability across Africa.
The AU says the extraordinary summit, taking place in Luanda on August 30, is convened under the leadership of Angolan President João Lourenço, who also serves as the AU Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa. The meeting is preceded by the 26th Extraordinary Session of the AU Executive Council on Saturday.
The summit follows a decision by the AU Assembly in February to convene a dedicated extraordinary meeting in Luanda on conflict prevention and resolution.
The Assembly said the meeting should be focused on concrete, measurable and time-bound outcomes rather than declarations alone.
The AU says the meeting is expected to produce practical policy measures to improve the responsiveness, efficiency and coordination of the African Peace and Security Architecture, APSA, and the African Governance Architecture, AGA.
The discussions are also expected to address early warning and early action, the role of the AU Peace and Security Council, coordination between the AU and regional economic communities, sustainable financing for peace operations, and the continent’s response to terrorism and violent extremism.
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The summit comes as several parts of Africa continue to face protracted security and political crises, including conflicts in Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, instability in the Sahel and security challenges in the Horn of Africa and Mozambique.
These crises have placed renewed pressure on African institutions to improve preventive diplomacy and strengthen locally led mechanisms for conflict management.
The AU has also stressed the importance of African ownership of the continent’s peace and security agenda, alongside closer cooperation among member states, regional economic communities and international partners.
Nkwocha says Nigeria continues to play a strategic role in peace building and conflict resolution in Africa and is expected to contribute to discussions on preventing conflicts, resolving disputes and sustaining peace.
Nigeria has historically participated in regional and continental peace efforts, including through diplomatic initiatives and contributions to peace support operations.
At the Luanda meeting, the country is expected to push for stronger collective approaches to addressing security threats and preventing conflicts before they escalate.
Shettima is accompanied by senior defence and security officials during the trip, according to the presidential aide.
Nigeria’s delegation comes as the AU seeks to strengthen coordination between its continental mechanisms and regional structures responsible for responding to emerging security threats.
The summit will bring together heads of state and government, AU institutions, regional economic communities and mechanisms, the AU Panel of the Wise, special envoys and high-level panels, as well as representatives of the United Nations and other international partners.
News Express
