Kenya To Welcome 15 African Leaders, 50 Ministers for Historic Summit
Towards the end of this week, Kenya will host the 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM), which will include 15 African heads of state and 50 African ministers of foreign affairs.
Dr. Alfred Mutua, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, announced on Tuesday that the summit will commence on Thursday and conclude on Sunday.
Mutua stated, “I welcome all delegates to Kenya to attend and participate in the 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, scheduled to take place in Nairobi from 13 to 16 July 2023.”
“The meeting of Heads of State and Government will be held at The United Nations in Gigiri, Nairobi, on Sunday, July 16, 2023.”
CS Mutua disclosed that the eight heads of state and government who chair the Regional Economic Communities, the African Union Commission, and the Regional Mechanisms (RMs) are anticipated to attend.
Burundi (EAC), Djibouti (IGAD), Zambia (COMESA), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SADC), Nigeria (ECOWAS), Chad (CEN-SAD), Libya (UMA), and Gabon (ECCAS) are the eight chairs of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
MYCM was established in 2017 as the primary forum for the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and Regional Mechanisms to align their activities and coordinate the implementation of the continental integration agenda.
The theme of this year’s AU conference is “Acceleration of AfCFTA Implementation,” which, according to CS Mutua, is intended to expedite the realization of one of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063: “The Africa We Want.”
ALSO READ: Iran’s President Scraps Kenya Visit
According to Dr. Mutua, the 43rd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, which brings together Foreign Ministers from across the continent, will commence on Thursday, preceding the 5th MYCM on Sunday.
According to him, the purpose of the meeting is to consider and ratify the AU’s financial budget for 2024, evaluate the implementation of AU decisions, and adopt new decisions on substantive issues of continental interest.
As more than 1,500 delegates from across Africa are anticipated to attend the MYCM, Cabinet Secretary Mutua emphasized that the conference will be an important hub for tourism and trade opportunities.
“International conferences are crucial and strategic drivers of our tourism market, particularly in the MICE Sector,” he stated.
“Every successful international conference held in Kenya cements our country’s reputation for its ability to host global meetings and allows delegates to experience Kenya’s enchantment beyond the conference halls.”
Mutua stated after the conference that Kenya plans to establish the African Audio-visual and Cinema Commission (AACC) to promote opportunities for youth.
“On 18 February 2023, the 36th Assembly of the African Union honored Kenya with the temporary secretariat of this Commission in Nairobi,” he said.
“AACC is a Specialized Agency of the AUC with the mandate to develop and strengthen the African audiovisual sector, which is essential for supporting the creative economy and providing economic opportunities for millions of young people on our continent.”
Kenya To Welcome 15 African Leaders, 50 Ministers for Historic Summit
HEY READER. PLEASE SUPPORT THIS SITE BY CLICKING ADS. DON’T FORGET TO HIT THE NOTIFICATION BELL FOR MORE UPDATES AROUND THE GLOBE.
