Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to travel to Addis Ababa on Saturday for an African Union summit, his spokesman said. During the visit, Sisi will hold a string of bilateral talks with African leaders to discuss mutual ties as well as the latest developments in Africa and the region. The heads of states will also attend a closed session to address the main issues on the summit's agenda, including institutional reforms of the 55-nation bloc, as well as efforts to establish an African free trade zone. The 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, scheduled from 22-29 January, is being held under the theme "Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa's Transformation." The Egyptian president is also scheduled to head a gathering on cross-border terrorism by the Peace and Security Council (PSC), the AU body in charge of maintaining continental peace and security, which Egypt is heading in January. On the sidelines of the summit, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held a series of talks with African counterparts in the Ethiopian capital on Thursday and Friday, including the foreign ministers of Sudan, Djibouti, Kenya and Malawi. Source: Ahram online
