2016-07-15Staff Report 2 Windhoek President Hage Geingob is today expected to depart for Kigali in the Republic of Rwanda, to attend the 27th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly. The summit that started on Sunday under the theme, ‘The African Year of Human Rights with particular focus on the Rights of Women’, ends on Monday. In a statement released on Wednesday, press secretary in the Office of the President Albertus Aochamub said the summit is expected to reaffirm the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa, especially women’s rights, and strengthen Africa’s shared values in order to overcome current challenges facing the continent. He said the summit is also expected to address critical issues on the free movement of people and goods, as well as regional integration in line with the AU Agenda 2063. According to Aochamub, this year will also see the launch of the AU electronic passport (e-Passport), another milestone in creating a strong, prosperous and integrated Africa. The pan-African passport will facilitate the free movement of persons, goods and services around the continent in order to foster intra-Africa trade, integration and socio-economic development. The AU Heads of State and Government and ministers of international relations and cooperation are expected to be issued with the AU Diplomatic Passport during the 27th Ordinary Session. He said the Ordinary Session will also elect and appoint the next chairperson of the AU Commission, as the current and fourth chairperson of the Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will vacate her seat at the end of 2016. The deputy chairperson of the commission, as well as the eight commissioners, will also be elected and appointed during the session. The 27th Ordinary Session will be proceeded by, amongst others, the 29th Session of the Executive Council from Monday to Friday, while the retreat of the Heads of States and Government on the financing of the AU is scheduled for Saturday. 2016-07-15Staff Report 2
