The 72nd United Nations General Assembly officially kicks off on Tuesday September 19, 2017 in New York and African leaders are expected to join their global counterparts in the meeting.
Some leaders have already arrived in the United States while a majority of them will be arriving on Monday for the annual gathering of world leaders.
Malawi and Uganda leaders Peter Mutharika and Yoweri Museveni have already arrived in the US while the South Africa’s government also on Sunday afternoon that President Jacob Zuma had arrived in New York.
#Malawi President @APMutharika has arrived in New York, #USA for #UNGA72 https://t.co/xyqqHu7Fnr#UNGA #UNGA2017 pic.twitter.com/j0UGs93k5z
— Malawi Government🇲🇼 (@MalawiGovt) September 16, 2017
.@KagutaMuseveni arrives in New York for #UN 72nd general assembly meeting https://t.co/WDHTcQdesr pic.twitter.com/0X9uF46Vqx
— State House Uganda (@StateHouseUg) September 16, 2017
President Jacob Zuma arrives in New York, USA ahead of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, taking place on 19-25 Sept. pic.twitter.com/jaXmVd9RfB
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) September 17, 2017
Nigeria’s government confirmed their President Buhari had left on Sunday morning.
President @MBuhari departs Abuja for New York, the US to participate in the 72nd Session of the United Nation General Assembly. #UNGA pic.twitter.com/uGVyQwv5yf
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) September 17, 2017
Other African leaders already in the United States include Cameroon’s Paul Biya and Congo Republic’s Dennis Sassou Nguesso.
Departure from Yaounde to the 72nd Session of #UNGA in New York, #USA: https://t.co/n3549JEnnd #PaulBiya #Cameroon @bbcafrique @prc_cellcom pic.twitter.com/SJckb7PjiC
— President Paul BIYA (@PR_Paul_BIYA) September 14, 2017
#Congo – Le Président Denis @SassouCG Nguesso a quitté #Brazzaville ce 17/09/17 pour New-York où il prendra part à la 72e AG de l'#ONU. #USA pic.twitter.com/d7EVvRXkqt
— ICIBRAZZA (@ICIBrazza) September 17, 2017
The meeting will also have newcomers including United States President Donald Trump as well as France’s Emmanuel Macron. Africa’s newcomers include Ghana’s Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo – who may not be entirely new to the UNGA since he was once a Foreign Minister, The Gambia’s Adama Barrow and Somalia’s Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, who according to reports might send his Prime Minsiter, Hassan Ali Khaire, to represent him.
#Gambia Prez @BarrowPresident in New York to attend 72nd #UNGA, his maiden UN mtg as President. He will also meet Gambian community in USA pic.twitter.com/FbfK4IopXO
— Alhagie Jobe ® (@freejobe39) September 17, 2017
This meeting will also be the first for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who took over last year from Ban Ki-Moon.
The United Nations General Assembly is the biggest annual gathering of world leaders, ‘to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges with the leaders focusing on the theme “Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for all on a Sustainable Planet”.
The agenda for each UNGA session is planned seven months prior to launching the session. 60 days before the session, the tentative agenda is refined into a provisional agenda.
One building.
193 countries.
Countless opportunities for change. #UNGA is here!
News, video + much more: https://t.co/IfCHf7uqII pic.twitter.com/2ej5se8peL— United Nations (@UN) September 18, 2017
Once the session begins, the final agenda is adopted in a plenary meeting where tasks are assigned to the various main committees of the GA.
Delegates at the 72nd session are further expected to focus on various topics on human aspects like education, safety and security and nutrition and development.
The Security Council will hold a high-level meeting Wednesday on UN peacekeeping operations, which cost nearly $8 billion a year.
