US President Barack Obama waves to Kenyans alongside his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta (R) ahead of his departure from Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi yesterday. Mr Obama arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last evening ahead of a meeting with African leaders today, particularly on peace and security . PHOTO BY AFP
By Mike Ssegawa
Kampala. US president Barack Obama is set to address African leaders in Addis Ababa tomorrow on the last day of his fourth African visit.
Yesterday evening, the US leader flew from Kenya to Ethiopia where he will visit the African Union, the 54-member continental bloc. He will address the continent particularly on issues of peace and security, and particularly the South Sudan crisis.
President Museveni, one of the most influential players on regional security, will be among African leaders in Addis Ababa for the meet, confirmed Foreign Affairs permanent secretary James Mugume.
He said: “The summit will look at resolving the crisis in South Sudan and the deployment of the Igad force.”
Uganda is a key player in South Sudan peace process having sent troops to save Juba from collapsing and throwing the country into anarchy.
The two warring leaders in South Sudan have been given up to August 17, to agree to a peace deal.
A statement from the AU website says Mr Obama will on Tuesday (tomorrow) pay an official visit to the AU headquarters.
He will then hold a bilateral meeting with the AU commission chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and commissioners before he delivers a speech to the continent from the Nelson Mandela Hall at the AU Conference Centre in Addis Ababa.
Mr Obama will address African leaders at the AU’s lustrous Chinese-built headquarters.
Historic
The AU commission chief said it would be a “historic visit” and “concrete step to broaden and deepen the relationship between the AU and the US”.
Ms Zuma will take the opportunity to present Africa’s priority areas as articulated in the Agenda 2063 framework document and the 10-year implementation plan aimed at achieving Africa’s vision for prosperity, integration and peace.
President Obama had told the AU commission when they met on June 29, 2013, in South Africa that “we stand ready and eager to work with the AU for the best engagement of the United States with Africa. If there is a strong AU, any help that is provided by the US becomes more effective than us doing things on our own.”
Among the other important issues at table are skills revolution to provide the youth with employment opportunities, industrialisation and infrastructural development and agro-processing.
The AU commission chief said it would be a “historic visit” and “concrete step to broaden and deepen the relationship between the AU and the US”.
Ms Zuma will take the opportunity to present Africa’s priority areas as articulated in the Agenda 2063 framework document and the 10-year implementation plan aimed at achieving Africa’s vision for prosperity, integration and peace.
President Obama had told the AU commission when they met on June 29, 2013, in South Africa that “we stand ready and eager to work with the AU for the best engagement of the United States with Africa. If there is a strong AU, any help that is provided by the US becomes more effective than us doing things on our own.”
Among the other important issues at table are skills revolution to provide the youth with employment opportunities, industrialisation and infrastructural development and agro-processing.
No bilateral talks with Uganda
Ambassador Mugume said there are no scheduled bilateral talks between the US and Uganda.
“There are no bilateral talks scheduled but I cannot rule out talks on the sidelines,” Mr Mugume, told Daily Monitor yesterday on telephone.
Ambassador Mugume said there are no scheduled bilateral talks between the US and Uganda.
“There are no bilateral talks scheduled but I cannot rule out talks on the sidelines,” Mr Mugume, told Daily Monitor yesterday on telephone.
Big player in regional peace
Uganda is a key player in regional security issues, including having the largest contingent of forces in Somalia, and troops in both South Sudan and Central African Republic. Uganda’s Museveni is also mediating in Burundi conflict, after president Peirre Nkurunziza ignored all foreign advice not to run for the third term, a decision that plunged the country into a political crisis.
Uganda is a key player in regional security issues, including having the largest contingent of forces in Somalia, and troops in both South Sudan and Central African Republic. Uganda’s Museveni is also mediating in Burundi conflict, after president Peirre Nkurunziza ignored all foreign advice not to run for the third term, a decision that plunged the country into a political crisis.
CREDIT: DAILY MONITOR
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