Tinubu Arrives in Ethiopia for AU Summit, Set to Return Monday

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday night arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to participate in the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government.

The President was received at the airport by the Ethiopian Deputy Chief of Protocol, Eshetu Legesse, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian embassy in Ethiopia, Ambassador Nasir Aminu.

They briefed President Tinubu about the summit and some diplomatic wins for the country, in a session that stretched until about 2 a.m. on Friday.

Among the wins was the re-election of Ambassador Bankole Adeoye as African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security. Nigeria also retained its seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council, reaffirming, in the words of Tuggar, “Nigeria’s leadership and commitment to peace and security on the continent.”

At the briefing were the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru; Minister of Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole; Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris; Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal; and Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite.

Also in attendance were the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed, and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla.

This year’s AU summit, under the theme ‘Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,’ focuses on reparatory justice and racial healing.

President Tinubu will deliver a speech at the Summit-level meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council, where discussions will focus on current security challenges on the continent, including the escalation of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The President will also participate in meetings on health financing, establishing an African Credit Rating Agency, and climate change.

Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement on Friday, said President Tinubu will return to Abuja on Monday, February 17.