27th AU SUMMIT
The 27th AU summit will be held in Rwanda’s Capital Kigali between July 10-18th under the theme; “2016: African Year of Human Rights, with particular focus on the Rights of Women”. The summit is expected to attract 3500 delegates including 54 heads of state. This is going to be the first time for Rwanda to host Africa’s most influential gathering including; senior government officials, diplomats and members of private sector.
Here are some of the stories Digital Media will be covering ahead of the summit and also during the summit:
- Recap of the 26th AU Summit in Addis Ababa
The 26th Summit of the African Union (AU) was held from January 21 to January 31, 2015 in Ethiopia’s capital of Addis Ababa. Chad’s president Idriss Itno Déby took over from Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe as the new chair of the African Union (AU). African leaders amongst other things discussed the Burundi crisis, Boko Haram and Al Shabaab. Also discussed at the summit was Agenda 2063, a 50-year blueprint for Africa’s development adopted to mark the African Union’s 50th anniversary in 2013. The meeting closed with a ceremony to thank stakeholders who contributed to the African Union’s response to last year’s Ebola outbreak in western Africa.
- Rwanda’s preparations for the summit
The out-going AUC chairperson Dr Dlamini-Zuma was in Rwanda few weeks ago to assess the country’s preparedness ahead of the summit and she was happy with the ongoing preparations. The country’s Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo has also said the country is fully prepared to host the continental event. The summit is expected to attract 3500 delegates including 54 heads of state. This is going to be the first time for Rwanda to host Africa’s most influential gathering including; senior government officials, diplomats and members of private sector.
- Kigali Convention Centre
Kigali Convention Centre will open in June and host the African Union Summit as its maiden major event. The centre is valued at more than $300 million (about Rwf223 billion), and will comprise of a five-star hotel with 292 rooms, a conference hall that can host 2,500 people, several other meeting rooms, as well as an office park. Use of pictures to describe this centre as well a look at old pictures as it was being built would make a good story.
- Paperless Conference
Rwanda is striving to host a Paperless Conference during the upcoming African Union Summit. There will be a visual image that will be on video screens all over the city of Kigali, Rwanda. We shall look forward to seeing how the country plans to conduct a conference without papers. This will also be an interesting story as well.
- Day to day activities at the summit
A detailed story on what will be happening during the summit from the first day to the last. Most of the information is on the AU website but we shall try to simplify what each stage of the events happening mean.
- Enjoying Kigali’s Free Wi-Fi
In October 2013, the Rwandan government announced it had started to cover the lush green, rolling hills of the capital with wireless hotspots. This was the first step of a plan to provide WiFi coverage to all schools and public buildings, markets, bus stations and hotels in the city and, in the long-term, to the entire country. It would be interesting to take a bus tour and see Kigali residents enjoying the free service as they commute from point A to B and also find out how the availability of internet has helped them in their businesses, schools etc.
- Car Free Zones in Kigali
August last year, the City of Kigali gave a four-day’ notice to the general public to prepare for the implementation of the car free zone where a car can only be allowed in if it is a case of an emergency (ambulance), banks that have to transport large sums of money and shops that have to replenish their stock. The area that stretches from KN 4 Ave has mainly banks, uptown boutiques, furniture shops and forex bureaus. The road touches KN 78 St. (Ecole Belge Street) and KN 84 St. (below the car-free zone street) which were also affected by the No Parking policy. According to city officials this was partly in recognition of the fact that a city belongs to the people not cars. We shall do a story on this and newsroom if they find time could also have a look at how residents in the city are enjoying a decongested area and silent streets.
- Maputo Protocol
Maputo Protocol, guarantees comprehensive rights to women including the right to take part in the political process, to social and political equality with men, to control of their reproductive health, and an end to female genital mutilation. On the margins of the 27th AU Summit, on July 8 & 9 there will be the 3rd AU High Level Panel on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. African Ministers, experts, scholars, practitioners, CSOs, think-tanks and delegates from the AU will deliberate on the theme “The Contributions of Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights in Transforming Gender Roles in Africa: Stocktaking, Opportunities and Accountability”.
- AUC Elections
As the African Union gathers for its 27th summit in Kigali in July, the agenda is likely to be dominated by the race to elect a new chair of the African Union Commission. After four years at the helm of the African Union Commission, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s time in Addis Ababa has come to an end. Dlamini-Zuma chose not to seek a second term, which means AU member states have to choose her replacement.
- A look at Dr Dlamini-Zuma’s leadership
We shall profile Dr Zuma and her term at the AU. An interview done by Girum recently will also be embedded on the story to give further light on her leadership at the AU. She has chosen not to seek a second term as the AUC chairperson.
- Mini-profiles of those who want to be voted in as the AUC
The new chairperson of the African Union Commission is set to be voted in at AU summit in Kigali. However, there’s widespread doubt whether any of the three candidates will actually receive the required two-thirds majority. The AU has denied reports that the candidates who are from Equatorial Guinea, Botswana and Uganda are below par. But who are these candidates? We shall be telling about them and their achievements. They are Specioza Kazibwe from Uganda, Agapito Mba Mokuy from Equatorial Guinea and Botswana’s foreign minister Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi.
