Jonathan In Addis Ababa For AU Extra-Ordinary Summit

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan on Friday arrived in Addis Ababa for the 15th Extraordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the session, scheduled for Oct. 12, is being convened to consider the Relationship of Africa and ICC at the AU Commission Headquarters. The President, who arrived at the Addis Ababa International Airport at about 7.30 p.m. Ethiopian time, was accompanied by Sen. Emmanuel Paulker, among other dignitaries. Jonathan was received by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke; the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Muhammed; and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mr. Lolo Bulus. Meanwhile, the Assembly is expected to consider the Progress Report on the implementation of its May 2013 decision on International Jurisdiction, Justice and the International Criminal Court and endorse the decision of the AU Executive Council, whose session is currently ongoing. The Heads of State and Government are also expected to endorse the election of the new AUC Commissioner for Peace and Security, Amb. Smail Chergui by the Executive Council. Chergui, 57, was unanimously elected, being the sole candidate presented by the countries of the North African region. Before his election, Chergui was former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Russian Federation and former Ambassador to Ethiopia.

He replaces Amb. Ramtane Lamamra, former AUC Commissioner for Peace and Security, now Algeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister.