ADDIS ABABA - What’s happening? The 37th African Union (AU) heads of state Summit will take place in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, on February 17th and 18th.

What’s on the agenda?

The AU has promised to discuss and make “far reaching decisions on the security situation on the continent.” Also featured on the agenda are institutional reforms at the AU, Africa joining the G20, climate change, and education. This year’s theme is “Educate and skill Africa for the 21st century.”

Who’s speaking?

Rwanda President Paul Kagame is scheduled to deliver a report on reforming the AU and Kenya’s President William Ruto will speak on Africa’s response to climate change. Egypt’s Abdi Fattah El Sisi, Sierra Leone’s Julius Maada Bio and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa are also among those expected to address delegates.

What about West Africa’s coups and upheavals?

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is expected to lead a high-level ECOWAS meeting on the sidelines of the summit following the recent announcement by Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger that they plan to leave the West African bloc, and amid protests in Senegal over the postponement of elections.

Commission President Moussa Faki term of office to expire next year

With the term of African Union Commission President Moussa Faki expiring next year, countries are set to begin lobbying for their preferred candidates to succeed him. The agenda at this year’s summit includes the appointment of a panel to oversee the pre-selection of candidates, with Faki’s replacement to be named at the next summit. Veteran Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga, who lost the 2022 presidential election, today officially declared his interest in the job. He reportedly has the backing of Kenya’s government.