AFRICAN foreign ministers and representatives will convene in Accra, Ghana, on Thursday for the 45th ordinary session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council. The primary agenda is to discuss and adopt the AU’s budget for 2025, alongside other significant continental issues.
This two-day meeting will also examine the AU’s participation in the upcoming G20 leaders’ summit in November in Brazil. South Africa’s delegation, led by Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, will participate in these critical discussions, highlighting the importance of bolstering the union and achieving financial independence.
The session aims to advance the AU’s mandate, including implementing Agenda 2063 and its flagship projects, as well as the Silencing of the Guns initiative. Emphasising the significance of a self-sufficient AU, Lamola’s attendance underscores the need to address Africa’s development challenges effectively.
In addition to the budget, the ministers are expected to address various security issues affecting the continent, such as militant activities in West Africa, the Sahel, Somalia, and the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The impact of climate change on food security, which threatens millions of lives, will also be a key topic.
During his stay in Ghana, Minister Lamola is set to engage in bilateral discussions with counterparts from other African nations to further strengthen regional cooperation and tackle shared challenges.
