By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is attending the 8th African Union (AU) mid-year co-ordination meeting in El-Alamein, Egypt, on October 4 in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The meeting will bring together Heads of State and Government of the AU Bureau, Chairpersons of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the Regional Mechanisms (RMs), heads of the AU Organs and development partners, including United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The summit offers an opportunity for bilateral talks on issues of mutual concern.
Among the key issues on the agenda will be progress in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), infrastructure related to water and sanitation, and efforts to prevent and address conflicts on the continent, including through strengthened early warning mechanisms.
Ramaphosa is accompanied by International Relations and Co-operation Minister Ronald Lamola, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, and Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau is already in Egypt.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said, “The mid-year meeting provides an opportunity for the Chairpersons of Regional Economic Communities to exchange views on the status of continental integration as an important component towards the realisation of the Africa We Want as espoused in Agenda 2063.”
The meeting will also assess progress made in the implementation of the Division of Labour between the AU, RECs/ Regional Mechanisms (RMs) and Member States, said Magwenya.”
“The Heads of State and Government are expected to consider efforts that the AU is undertaking in addressing and preventing conflicts on the continent, including through enhancing its early warning mechanism.”
“The Mid-Year Coordination Meeting provides an opportunity for President Ramaphosa to interact with his counterparts bilaterally on African issues of mutual concern,” added Magwenya.
On the margins of the meeting, Egypt will host a Business Forum from 2 to 4 October 2026, while a Summit of the Founders of AUDA-NEPAD will be convened on 3 October 2026.