President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria is scheduled to depart for Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday, July 15, to participate in the Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (5thMYCM) of the African Union (AU).
As the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Tinubu will join Heads of State and Government, Foreign Ministers of AU Member-States, and high-level dignitaries at the mid-year meeting, set to take place on Sunday, July 16.
Presidential spokesman Dele Alake issued a statement on Friday, outlining the purpose and objectives of President Tinubu’s participation in the meeting.
Alake stated that President Tinubu would present a comprehensive report on the progress of regional integration within ECOWAS.
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The report will highlight the actions taken during the review period by ECOWAS institutions, member-states, the private sector, and other stakeholders to foster integration through trade, free movement of persons, investment promotion, infrastructure development, peace, security, and stability.
The 5thMYCM is convened under the auspices of the AU’s 2023 theme, “Acceleration of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Implementation.”
This significant gathering will bring together the Bureau of the AU Assembly, which comprises the Heads of State and Government from Comoros, Botswana, Burundi, and Senegal, along with the leaders of the eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
The RECs participating in the meeting include ECOWAS, chaired by Nigeria, as well as the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN SAD), the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).
The meeting will provide an opportunity for President Tinubu and other African leaders to deliberate on the progress made towards the implementation of the AfCFTA, a flagship initiative aimed at creating a single market for goods and services across the African continent. They will also discuss strategies to overcome challenges and expedite the implementation process.
In addition to the Bureau of the AU Assembly, the African Union Commission and the Regional Mechanisms (RMs) will also participate in the meeting.
The RMs play a vital role in coordinating efforts and fostering collaboration among member-states within their respective regions.
Accompanied by a delegation of senior government officials, President Tinubu is expected to return to Nigeria upon the conclusion of the meeting.
