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29 January 2008

Pretoria: South African President Thabo Mbeki today, Tuesday, 29 January 2008, touched down in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he will lead a South African delegation including Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa at the African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled from Thursday, 31 January 2008 to Saturday, 2 February 2008.

The African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held under the banner, "Industrialisation in Africa," and will be preceded by a New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee Meeting and African Peer Review Forum on Wednesday, 30 January 2008, to which President Thabo Mbeki will lead his senior government delegation.

Heads of State and Government will:

* consider the Report of the Executive Council on the Audit of the Union and the Report of the Ministerial Committee on the Union Government
* elect and appoint the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Commission
* consider the appointment of the Commissioners
* consider the appointment of the Members of the Peace and Security Council
* adopt the Budget for 2008.

Heads of State will also receive reports on the:

* activities of the Peace and Security Council and the State of Peace and Security in Africa
* chairperson of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee.

Heads of State and Government will also debate the proposed participation of the African Diaspora as an observer in the assemblies of the African Union. President Thabo Mbeki is expected to return to South Africa on Sunday, 3 February 2008.

Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
29 January 2008