Museveni in Ethiopia

An Ethiopian girl receives a hug from President Museveni after presenting him with flowers at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa Ethiopia where he is attending the 33rd Ordinary Session of the African Union. Photos by PPU

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA:  President Yoweri Museveni is in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa for the 33^rd ordinary session of the assembly of Heads of State and Governments at the African Union headquarters.

Ethiopian traditional performers entertain President Museveni at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa Ethiopia where he is attending the 33rd Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly.

This year's summit is being held under the theme Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive conditions for Africa's Development. The initiative of silencing the guns is a flagship project of Africa's agenda 2063 and aims to achieve a conflict-free Africa, make peace a reality for all and rid the continent of wars, civil conflicts, gender-based violence, violent conflicts and preventing genocide.

The Ethiopian Minister of Science and Higher Education Hirut Woldemariam earlier today received the President at Bole International airport.

Uganda's delegation at the Summit also includes Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kahamba Kuteesa and State Minister of Finance for Planning David Bahati among others.

Ethiopian security officers on parade as President Museveni arrived at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa Ethiopia where he is attending the 33rd Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly.

During this year's summit, current AU chairman, President Abdel Fattah el Sisi of Egypt, will officially hand over the chairmanship of the African Union to President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa at the opening session. 

This will be the second time South Africa holds the chairmanship of the continental body after first doing so in 2002 when the African Union succeeded the Organisation of African Unity.

Foreign Affairs minister Sam Kutesa receives President Museveni at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa Ethiopia where he is attending the 33rd Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly on Saturday 

The February 9-10 summit will discuss peace and security in Africa, among other issues. The assembly will review progress made and the challenges to peace, stability, and sustainable development in Africa.

In addition to the key discussions around Africa's peace and security agenda, other headline issues to be discussed include, sustainable funding of Africa's development agenda specifically addressing the scale of assessment and contributions to the AU's budget; progress made in the implementation of Agenda 2063; operationalization of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); African candidatures in the international system, the International Criminal Court, and Africa's Digital Transformation Strategy.