Special AU Summit on Peace and Security

(Press Release)--African heads of State and government will meet between 30 and 31 August 2009 to discuss peace and security on the continent in Tripoli, Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

Following the decision adopted during the 13th ordinary session of the African Union summit which took place from 24 June to 3 July 2009 in Sirte, Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, the heads of State and government of the African Union accepted the invitation of the AU chairperson, leader Muammar El-Gaddafi, to hold a special summit for the consideration and resolution of conflicts in Africa. This, he said will create an opportunity to further the quest for peace, security and stability in the continent.

The AU special summit will take place from 30 - 31 August 2009, in Tripoli, on the margins of the celebrations marking the 4oth anniversary of the Libyan Revolution.

The Summit will consist of the following activities:

•a) Three workshops on specific peace and Security issues to take place on 30 August 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 13:00 p.m, and provide useful recommendations and ideas on the best way forward;

•b) It will be followed by the executive council meeting on the same day, from 15:00 p.m. to 17:00 p.m., to review the draft agenda and organization of work;

•c) While the assembly of heads of State and government will hold on 31 August 2009.

The special summit will review the various conflict and crisis situations in Africa and look at ways and means of ensuring the effective implementation of the decisions adopted by the AU policy organs. Particular focus will be on the situation in Somalia, Darfur, and the Great Lakes regions. The special session will also consider the challenges of post-conflict reconstruction and stabilisation, with specific reference to the roles that could be played by member States and the regional mechanisms.

The special session will give further impetus for the implementation of the decisions made by various AU policy organs on peace and security issues. It will also discuss the putting in place a strong and effective institutional framework - towards the operationalisation of the African peace and security architecture.

Detailed programmes of the special summit as well as the process for the accreditation of journalists is posted on the AU Website: www.africa-union.org

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