The African Union and the Republic of Zambia have signed a host agreement on the hosting of the 4th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting at the level of Heads of State and Government, to be held on 17th July in Lusaka, Zambia. The signing ceremony took place in the context of the second evaluation mission to Zambia by the African Union Commission, which is mandated to support member states in the organization of the Union’s summits.

Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Stanley Kakubo informed media gathered for the event that the summit would bring together 13 Heads of State and Government, comprising 5 Heads of State that form the Bureau of the Assembly of the AU, and 8 Heads of State who chair the 8 Regional Economic Communities that are recognized by the AU.

Mr Kakubo announced that Zambia is ready to receive all delegates to the event and added that the government is working with various stakeholders including the private sector in the preparations.

This is the first time Zambia is hosting an AU event of this magnitude since 2001. In that year, the Lusaka Summit drew up the implementation plan of the AU, as part of the transition process from the Organisation of African Unity.

The minister stressed the commitment of the country’s President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, to ensuring that Zambia remains an active member of the African Union, and a key partner in furthering the continental development agenda. He also announced his country’s intention to leverage the summit to promote its tourism, trade and investment opportunities.

The head of the African Union Commission’s assessment mission, Ambassador Tordeta Ratebaye signed the host agreement and spoke on behalf of the Commission’s Chairperson Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat.

He informed the hosts that the AU is ready to hold the summit, adding that the assessment team was satisfied with the work done so far, and that pending issues would be resolved in the next few weeks.

He advised that the Union’s Permanent Representatives Committee would start meeting on the 20th of June at the headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to review all the documents. The 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council will hold after the PRC meeting, from 14th to 15th July in Lusaka, to be followed by the 4th MYCM on the 17th. 

The MYCM will be held at the Mulungushi International Conference Center, which was inaugurated by President Hakainde Hichilema on the 31st of May.

Media accreditation for the MYCM is now open at https://accreditation.au.int/en/media/2022/4th-mid-year-coordination-meeting

Media contacts

Mrs. Wynne Musabayana| Head of Communication | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission |Tel: +251 115 517 700 | E-mail:MusabayanaW@africa-union.org| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Directorate of Information and Communication, WhatsApp +251 911 630 631, E-mail: Molalett@africa-union.org