His Excellency the president of the Republic of The Gambia, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh, accompanied by a high powered delegation, will leave Banjul this eveningat 2100hrs for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the 19th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

All those invited to see His Excellency the president off are requested to be at the airport at least an hour before departure for the usual ceremonies.

Theme

On the theme "Boosting Intra Africa Trade", the deliberations of the 19th AU Summit began on July 9 in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, with a two-day meeting of the AU Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) from July 9 to 10.

The PRC meeting is followed by the AU Council of Ministers meeting from July 12 to 13, where the Foreign Ministers are deliberating on the report of the PRC for presentation to the 19th Summit of the Heads of States and Government which would hold from July 15 to 16.

They will consider the activity report of the Commission; the recommendations of the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) on the implementation of previous Decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly; and the report of the ministerial committee on candidatures, among others.

The Executive Council will further look into reports of some AU Organs including the Pan-African Parliament (PAP); the African Committee of the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC); the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the Union (ECOSOCC); the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption; and the African Union Commission on International Law (AUCIL) before embarking on the consideration of items proposed by Member States.

Key items on the agenda of the Summit will the election of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, the Deputy Chairperson and Commissioners which was deadlocked during the January Summit.