Buhari Leaves For Mauritania For AU Summit

President Muhammadu Buhari leaving Mauritania ( Photo File)

President Muhammadu Buhari has left Katsina for Nouakchott, Mauritania, to attend the 31st Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

The presidential aircraft conveying the president and other members of his entourage to Mauritania took off at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, Katsina, about 10. 20 a.m. Today

At the Summit slated to hold on June 30 to July 2 Buhari would make introductory remarks and presentation on the summit’s theme — “Winning the Fight against Corruption, A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.’’
In a statement the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina, Buhari will make the presentation in his capacity as the leader of the AU.

Adesina also said that Buhari and other African leaders would take part in an interactive session with President Emmanuel Macron of France.

He said that the session would deliberate on financing AU-led Peace Support Operations authorised by the United Nations Security Council.

“Dominant issues affecting the continent such as peace and security, HIV and AIDS, regional cooperation, climate change will engage the attention of the African leaders during the Summit,’’ he said.

Adesina further stated that Buhari would hold high-level bilateral sessions on issues of shared common interests of the country, Africa and the world.

Buhari would be accompanied on the trip with Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo and other top government officials.

While in Katsina on Friday, President Buhari had met and condoled with the government and people of Katsina State on a windstorm disaster that killed six persons and destroyed more than 530 houses in the state.

NAN reports that 2,000 people were displaced as a result of the disaster.

Buhari also addressed traditional, community and religious leaders as well as representatives of victims of the disaster at the Palace of Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Usman.

He said that he had directed the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant government agencies to assess the situation with a view to offering necessary assistance to the victims.

Details Later…