Obama to visit African Union HQ in Addis Ababa

U.S. President Barack Obama will visit the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, where he will meet with Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the AU Commission, and other AU officials.

Obama will also deliver a speech to the African continent from the Nelson Mandela Hall at the AU Conference Center in Addis Ababa, according to Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission.

Speaking to the press on Friday here in Addis, Mwencha said that the U.S. President and the Chairperson of AU Commission would discuss ways of strengthening trade relation between Africa and the U.S..

The meeting between the two leaders will also be an opportunity to discuss issues related to investment as well as cooperation on areas of AU's programs in infrastructure, information and communication technology (ICT), and agriculture, according to the Deputy Chairperson.

"But, beyond trade, we are looking at investment. And investment I should say the United States is one of the major investors on the continent. And we have a number of programs in the continent that we are looking at, mainly in the area of infrastructure but we are also looking at sectors like ICT and also agriculture," he said.

"There are also global issues that we are talking about concerning climate change and such like areas. The two leaders will have an opportunity first of all to look at how we strengthen this cooperation including peace and security which of course paramount of importance particularly looking at issues of terrorism and counter terrorism," he noted.

A statement from AU quoted Dlamini-Zuma as saying, "This is an historic visit to the African Union. And it will be my great pleasure to welcome President Barack Obama to the AU."

"It is also another concrete step to broaden and deepen the relationship between the AU and the US," she said.

During the visit, the AU Commission Chairperson will take the opportunity to present Africa's priority areas as articulated in the Agenda 2063 framework document and the 10-year implementation plan, aimed at achieving Africa's vision for prosperity, integration and peace, according to the statement.

The visit is expected to offer the opportunity for both Dlamini-Zuma and Obama to further the discussions held in June 2013 in South Africa, and during the U.S.-Africa Summit in August 2014 in Washington DC, said the statement.

"Among the important issues will be skills revolution to provide the youth with employment opportunities; industrialization and infrastructural development and agro-processing," it said.

"In addition, expected to feature in both the bilateral and the speeches are issues around, but not limited to, education, youth and women's empowerment, trade, investment, and peace and security, particularly the fight against terrorism and extremism," noted the statement.

The AU Commission will also be engaging and discussing with a delegation of Senators and Congressmen travelling with the U.S. President, said the statement.

Obama will be arriving in Ethiopia after participating and speaking at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. Endit