President Sirleaf Arrives in Egypt for African Union Summit

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has arrived in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, to participate in the Summit for Heads of States and Governments of the African Union (AU).

The Liberian leader arrived today in the Egyptian resort city to participate in the Summit which is scheduled from June 30th to July 1st. She is expected to reiterate her call to fellow African leaders for the need for Africa to carve out a roadmap which will eventually lead to the much-coveted Union Government or a United States of Africa. Another issue scheduled to be brought to the forefront is the political situation in Zimbabwe. Enthusiasm has heightened among political pundits in Sharm El-Sheikh due to today’s inauguration of incumbent President Robert Mugabe in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, for a sixth term.

During yesterday’s meeting of the Africa Union’s Executive Council, which comprises the continent’s foreign ministers, Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Olubanke King-Akerele, initiated discussion on Zimbabwe, which prompted Summit heads to place Zimbabwe on the list of agenda items.
 
Other issues on the African Union Summit’s agenda include a proposition by Libya that two AU meetings be held during the year, as well as the proposal to allow Libya to host the second meeting. The AU Heads of States are also expected to examine the continent’s relationship with the United Nations as it relates to peace and security. An additional issue will be the various partnership agreements between Africa and other countries, which has generated considerable debate among delegates about sovereignty.

President Johnson Sirleaf arrived in Sharm El-Sheikh at the head of a high-powered delegation, which includes Foreign Minister Olubanke King-Akerele; Dr. Edward Clinton, Liberia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union; Hon. Kona Blackett, Liberia’s Ambassador to Egypt; and Hon. Henry Fahnbulleh, Assistant Foreign Minister for Afro-Asian Affairs.