Rwanda gears up for AU Summit

An advance team from the African Union (AU) Commission is expected in Kigali this week to finalize the program and other logistics for the AU Summit due in Kigali next month, Rwanda's Foreign minister Louise Mushikiwabo said Tuesday.

She was briefing journalists about the preparations for the 27th AU Summit scheduled for July 10-18.

"We are expecting more than 3,000 guests. Final touches are being put on different facilities around the city," said Mushikiwabo.

Mushikiwabo said a lot of activities in terms of arrangement are still ongoing, but most of the work will be completed by July.

The meeting will be hosted at the Kigali Convention center.

About 50 Heads of state, hundreds of senior government officials from across the continent, and heads of diplomatic missions are expected to attend.

Also on the agenda will be the elections of the new African Union chairperson, the deputy chairperson and several commissioners.

The summit will also see the launch of the African passport aimed to promote free movement of people.

Africa, Mushikiwabo said, would not realize valuable trade links without facilitating seamless movement of people, goods and services -- the reason Rwanda has spearheaded the visa-free Africa concept.

The minister noted that in issuing visa on arrival, Rwanda is doing what it believes is the right thing to do for integration. Enditem