Media advisory note for the 26th AU Summit

NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST

ALL MEDIA PERSONNEL, PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF REVISED REGULATIONS ON ACCREDITATION FOR THE AU SUMMIT.
Media are advised to keep checking with this advisory note for any further updates

MEDIA ADVISORY NOTE

FOR THE
26TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE AFRICAN UNION
ADDIS ABABA ETHIOPIA

21-31 JANUARY 2016

THEME OF THE SUMMIT

“ 2016: African Year of Human Rights, with particular focus on the Rights of Women”

1. ACCREDITATION FOR MEDIA PERSONNEL BASED OUTSIDE ETHIOPIA
All journalists will apply online. The media accreditation form is available on http://au.int/en/summit/26/accreditation
Once journalists receive confirmation of their application from the Directorate of Information and Communication (DIC), they should print it and, along with their application documents and passport copy, take it to Ethiopian Embassy in their country. Documents should be taken to the PUBLIC DIPLOMACY CENTER and not the visa center.

The documents will be processed by the Ethiopian government authorities through their channels and journalists will receive their visas from their points of application.

All journalists will be issued with journalist visas. No journalist will be allowed to attend the summit on a business or tourist visa.

ACCREDITATION FOR JOURNALISTS APPLYING FROM COUNTRIES WHERE THERE IS NO ETHIOPIAN EMBASSY
Journalists from countries where there is no Ethiopian embassy should fill in the visa on arrival form available on the AU website: www.au.int
Once received, DIC will forward it to the Ethiopian Government Communication Office for processing as per the regulations.

ACCREDITATION FOR JOURNALISTS WHO ARE ON MISSION IN COUNTRIES WHERE THERE IS NO ETHIOPIAN EMBASSY
Media personnel who are on mission where there is no Ethiopian embassy should observe the following regulations:
Their organization should facilitate the process for them. Their residence card should be attached to their application documents.
They should go, in person, to collect their visa from their country of residence.

Three methods of accreditation are available for journalists applying from outside Ethiopia.

1.1. Online system:
The online accreditation form is available at http://au.int/en/summit/26/accreditation

1.2. E-mail:
After completing the accreditation form, the form and scanned copies of all the required documents should be sent via e-mail to Mrs Rahel Akalewold on: 26thausummit@africa-union.org

1.3. Mail and fax:
After completing the accreditation form, the form and all the required documents should be sent to:
Mrs. Rahel Akalewold
Directorate of Information and Communication
African Union Commission
PO Box 3243
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 5526373 ext 2551; Fax: +25111553 6150:
E mail- 26thAUSummit@africa-union.org

Required documents to accompany application form
• Two passport size photographs not more than six months old;
• A letter of assignment on a letterhead from the journalist’s organization indicating his/ her function;
• Copy of a valid professional press card or equivalent identification

It is also advisable to carry hard copies of all the required documents in case of any necessary checks. Applications should reach Mrs Akalewold before the12th of January 2016.

2. ACCREDITATION FOR MEDIA PERSONNEL BASED IN ETHIOPIA

All media personnel operating from within Ethiopia must apply for accreditation through the Government Communication Office by providing the following information:
Full Names (as in ID or Passport)
ID or Passport Number
Name of Media organization
Designation (Reporter, Photographer etc)
Current media/ press badge
Contact Numbers
Email address

The above information must be provided before 12 January 2016 to the following officials:
Government Communication Office
1. Mr. Teklemariam Debele
Tel: 251 913 142920
E-mail: mediarltn@gmail.com

2. Ms. Bedria Welchefo
Tel : 251 911 030404
E-mail : mediarltn@gmail.com

3. Ms. Aynadis Getenet
Tel: 251 911 88 20 31
E-mail: mediarltn@gmail.com

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office
1. Ms. Yetimwork Taregkegn
Tel. 251 913 35 05 91
E –mail: Spokesperson@mfa.gov.et

2. Mr. Dallol Arefa
Tel 251 914 16 63 51
E-mail: Spokesperson@mfa.gov.et

3. WHAT TO DO IN ETHIOPIA
Journalists will need to get two badges.

3.1. The Government press badge will be issued by the government authorities. This involves being photographed before the card is processed. Journalists will be advised in due course of the accreditation venue. This badge will allow access into the AU compound.
3.2. AU Conference badge: After getting the government issued press badge, journalists will need to go to the African Union Commission to get their Conference badges. This badge will give them access into the conference rooms during the Summit.
3.3. Journalists are advised to make sure they arrive in Ethiopia in good time so as to have the documentation done before the meetings start.
3.4. Journalists are also advised to arrive at Summit venues early to ensure that they clear all entry procedures before the meetings start.

4. YELLOW FEVER CARDS
4.1. Yellow fever cards will be required at the ports of entry for everyone travelling from yellow fever designated countries.

5. CUSTOMS CLEARANCE FOR MEDIA EQUIPMENT

Accredited media personnel bringing technical equipment with them to Ethiopia will be subject to full Customs Control. Journalists are requested to send their list of equipment (two copies) together with their application for accreditation. (See media equipment form on the AU website)
Journalists wishing to bring in live broadcasting equipment or to request live transmission facilities should contact
Mr. Habte Gemeda
Co-ordinator; Satellite and Television Facilities
(+251-911 677952) (+251 923 807 876)
Ethiopian Television
E-mail Gemedaetv@yahoo.com

6. MEDIA FACILITIES
7. A media center, with facilities for print, online and electronic media will be available at the Summit venue. Access to media facilities will be available only to accredited media representatives.

8. REQUESTS FOR INTERVIEWS WITH AUC LEADERSHIP
Journalists wishing to interview the leadership of the AU Commission during the 26th AU Summit should submit their requests to Mrs Esther Azaa Tankou, Ag. Director of Information and Communication of the AUC on YambouE@africa-union.org; Tel: +251 911 36 11 85

9. MEDIA BRIEFINGS BY AU LEADERSHIP
Briefings by leaders of the various African Union organs and programmes will take place at the conference center. Journalists will be given advance notice of the briefing time, venue and speakers.
Other partner organisations of the AU occasionally request facilities through the DIC for media briefings during the Summit. Journalists will be notified of such briefings through postings in the media center

10. MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE SUMMIT
Opening and closing sessions during the meetings are open to journalists, depending on availability of space within the meeting rooms. Media practitioners will be informed of how to enter the plenary halls in the following ways:
- A guideline will be circulated to all media on the AU database and on the AU website
- A briefing session will be held for all media during the Summit. A notice will be circulated regarding the time and date of the briefing.

11. LIVE STREAMING
Open sessions of the Summit will be streaming live. The live stream link will be disseminated for information and for the public to follow live all the open sessions worldwide.
These feeds will be available through the media centre. Media will also be notified of all live streamed meetings via the website and notices posted in the media center.

11. TELEPHONES AND FAXES
Telephone facilities will be available on a commercial basis.

12. TELEVISION AND RADIO
The link for live proceedings of the opening session of the Assembly will be publicised as soon as it is established.
Related enquiries should be sent to Mr Gamal Karrar on: GamalK@africa-union.org, Direct Tel.: +251 11 5182573

13. ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation will be on self-arrangement basis. Journalists are advised to make their booking early to avoid last minute inconveniences. A list of Addis Ababa hotels will soon be available on the African Union website.

14. SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS ENQUIRIES
Further enquiries on the arrangements made for the media for the Summit should be directed to Mrs Wynne Musabayana on MusabayanaW@africa-union.org or wynnemusabayana@yahoo.com and to Mrs. Esther Azaa Tankou, Ag. Director of Information and Communication of the AUC, on yamboue@africa-union.org or esthertankou@yahoo.com .