South African Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, arrives in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa - South African Foreign Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, today Wednesday, 15 November 2006, touched down in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ahead of the Extraordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council of Foreign Ministers to discuss proposals for the establishment of the African Union (AU) Government, scheduled from Friday, 17 to Saturday, 18 November 2006.

In Ethiopia, Minister Dlamini Zuma will attend the AU's Executive Council meeting within the context of South Africa's commitment to strengthening the institutions of the AU. The Extraordinary Ministerial session of the AU is expected to deliberate on the proposals for the establishment of an AU Government. The outcomes of this session will be submitted to the Summit of Heads of State and Government at its Assembly in January 2007.

The January 2006 AU Summit mandated the Committee of Seven Heads of State, under the stewardship of Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, to conduct a Study on an African Union Government. The Committee was specifically tasked with considering the need for an AU Government, its strategic policy domain, its implications in terms of institutions and programmes and finally, to propose a road map for the establishment of an AU Government.

The July 2006 Summit, decided that the document should be referred to an Extraordinary Ministerial meeting for further deliberation.

Enquiries:

Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
15 November 2006