President Thabo Mbeki arrives in Abuja, Nigeria, ahead of AU Summit of Heads of State and Government

Abuja - South African President Thabo Mbeki arrived in Abuja, Nigeria, on Saturday, 29 January 2005, to join other African leaders for the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit scheduled for Sunday - Monday, 30 - 31 January 2005.

President Mbeki, who will be joined by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma at the Summit, returned from Davos, Switzerland, where he led a South African Government delegation to the World Economic Forum.

The African Union Summit will receive reports from the African Union Executive Council of Foreign Ministers on the programme and budget of the organisation for 2005, reports from the Peace and Security Council with respect to the peaceful the resolution conflicts in the continent and the Heads of State Implementation Committee on NEPAD, as well as a briefing on the Asia-Africa Summit scheduled for April 2005 in Bandung, Indonesia.

In addition the Summit is expected to discuss the continental situation regarding food security, HIV/Aids, malaria, tuberculosis and polio eradication.

President Mbeki and Minister Dlamini Zuma are expected to return to South Africa on Tuesday, 1 February ahead of the scheduled visit to Mozambique for the inauguration of the new Mozambican President.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

29 January 2005.