Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has arrived in Luanda, Angola, ahead of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).
The summit, scheduled for August 29 and 30, will focus on “Strengthening Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu arrived at the Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto Angola International Airport on Tuesday evening and was received by Ambassador Matias Pires of Angola’s Ministry of External Relations, a statement by her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Dr. Magnus Eze, said on Thursday,
Officials of the Nigerian Mission in Angola, led by the Acting Chargé d’Affaires, Ambassador Maxy Ogbede, were also at the airport to receive the minister.
Other officials present included the Defence Attaché, Navy Captain Mohammed Adamu, Head of Consular Section, Dr. Maxwell Anu-Okeke, and other members of the mission.
The minister is expected to receive Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday as he arrives to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the high-level AU meeting.
While in Luanda, the foreign affairs minister is also expected to engage in bilateral meetings, interact with personnel of the Nigerian Embassy and meet with members of the Nigerian community in Angola.
The 21st Extraordinary Session will follow the 26th Extraordinary Session of the AU Executive Council and is expected to deliberate on ways of strengthening the continent’s mechanisms for preventing and resolving conflicts.
The meeting comes amid continuing security and governance challenges across Africa, despite existing continental frameworks such as the African Peace and Security Architecture and the African Governance Architecture.
The AU Assembly had, at its 38th Ordinary Session in February 2025, highlighted the need to adapt the continent’s peace, security and governance mechanisms to emerging challenges.
The AU Peace and Security Council, under Angola’s chairmanship, also called in September 2025 for renewed efforts to strengthen conflict prevention and resolution, particularly by addressing the underlying causes of conflicts.
The Luanda summit is expected to promote preventive diplomacy, inclusive governance and stronger coordination between the AU and Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms towards sustainable, African-led solutions to conflicts.