African Heads of State Gather in Maputo for AU Summit

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, July 10, 2003

African Heads of State Gather in Maputo for AU Summit

A total of 35 heads of state from African countries have gathered in Maputo on Thursday morning for the summit of the African Union.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

A total of 35 heads of state from African countries have gathered in Maputo on Thursday morning for the summit of the African Union.

Antonio Matonse, spokesman for the Mozambican president, told Xinhua before the opening of the Second Ordinary Session of the Assembly of heads of state and government of the AU that those who have come to Maputo include South African President Thabo Mbeki, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Libyan leader Omar Muammar Ghaddafi.

The spokesman said that Mozambique expects 40 heads of state to come to Maputo for the summit, but some could not come due to something happened in their countries.

For instance, he said, Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir was scheduled to come on Wednesday morning, but he would not come because of air crash in his country.

Guinean President Lansana Conte also failed to come here because he got sick, the spokesman said.

The summit will run from Thursday to Saturday in the capital of Mozambique which will take over the revolving AU presidency from South Africa.

According to the program available here, during the three-day summit, African heads of state and government will elect new chairman of the AU Commission and discuss the issue of New Partnership for Africa's Development as well as other issues concerning conflicts in the region and economic development.

Since Arama Essy of Cote d'Ivoire, the interim chairperson of the AU Commission, gave up the competition for the post, Alpha Oumar Konare, the former president of Mali, becomes the only candidate for the chairman of the AU Commission, responsible for the sailing of the one-year-old AU.

At the opening ceremony of the AU summit, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who arrived here on Tuesday, will address the summit and is expected to meet with representatives from the conflict-ridden Great Lakes region.

The African Union envisages a Peace and Security Council, Pan African Parliament, common court of justice and, eventually, a common African currency.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Annan Arrives in Maputo for AU Summit

Africa Walks Out of Difficulties

Chinese Premier Wen Greets African Union Summit

China Urges US to Stop Upgrading Relations with Taiwan ( 14 Messages)

Scientific Theory, Great Banner: Commentary ( 2 Messages)

Will Lawmaking on Sexual Harassment Upset Normal Social Life? ( 9 Messages)

Why Renminbi Not to Be Revalued, Chief Economist of Morgan Stanley ( 3 Messages)

DPRK Refutes South Korea's "Principal Enemy" Rhetoric ( 16 Messages)