President Cyril Ramaphosa will, in his capacity as African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) chairperson, oversee the 36th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government on 18 and 19 February, in Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia.

The current Chair of the AU, Senegal President Macky Sall, will present the annual report of the chairperson and a report on global governance matters, which includes the proposal that the AU  become a member of The Group of Twenty (G20). 

African Heads of State and Government are also expected to reaffirm their commitment to the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement and accelerating the finalisation of outstanding issues, including the Rules of Origin and supporting Protocols. 

Ramaphosa will on Saturday present a report on the State of Peace and Security on the African continent and join discussions on the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

In his capacity as the AU Champion on Covid-19, Ramaphosa will also present the Report on the AU Response to Covid-19 in Africa to the Assembly.

The Presidency explained that the focus of the report will be on concrete actions undertaken to contain the spread of the pandemic on the continent. Ramaphosa is also expected to deliver the Progress Report on the New Partnership for Africa's Development Infrastructure Championing Initiative.

Ramaphosa will be accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor, Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel and Defence and Military Veterans Deputy Minister Thabang Makwetla.

The election of the new Bureau of the AU Assembly for the year 2023 will be on the cards, as will discussion of AU institutional reform.

Appointments to various organs of the Union, as well as reports of the leaders on specific thematic issues, will also be considered.

The Presidency explained that South Africa’s participation in the meeting is crucial to influence the strategic decision of the deliberations, as well as the outcomes document in the form of the Assembly Decisions.