TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja on Tuesday for Aswan, Egypt to attend a meeting designed to set “an agenda for sustainable peace and development in Africa.”

Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, made this known in a statement on Monday.

“The initiative is being launched by the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in his capacity as the Chairman of the African Union (AU) and as an advocate of Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development in Africa – a recurring theme of his tenure as the AU Chairman,” the statement said.

“It is also grounded in the AU’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, and the search for African solutions to African problems.

“The gathering is expected to bring together heads of state and government, leaders from regional and international organisations, financial institutions, private sector and civil societies.

”(Others are) scholars, visionaries and prominent experts for action-oriented discussions on the threats, challenges, and opportunities.

“It is also expected to end with a Declaration on the theme of the Forum and become an annual event.”

Ali Abdel Aal , speaker of Egypt’s house of representatives, had delivered el-Sisi’s message to Buhari in Abuja in October while inviting him to the inaugural Aswan forum.

Adesina said the president will be accompanied by Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa state, Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, and Mai Mala Buni, governor of Yobe.

Others in Buhari’s delegation are Bashir Magashi, minister of defence; Zubairu Dada, minister of state, foreign affairs; Babagana Monguno, national security adviser, and the Ahmed Abubakar, director-general of national intelligence agency.

The president is expected back in Abuja on Friday.