President Sisi attends closed session ahead of launch

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi participated here on Monday in a closed session of the 28th African Summit ahead of the official launch of the summit that is held under the theme: "Harnessing the demographic dividend through investments in youth".

During their first closed session of talks, the African leaders are scheduled to discuss three main topics; the AU funding, a report by former African Development Bank (AfDB) president Donald Kaberuka on imposing a 0.2% levy on imports to African countries and securing funds to implement the 2063 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Africa.

During their first closed session, the African leaders discuss the establishment of the Pan-African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), which Egypt hosted a conference in this regard in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh.

The African leaders will also review Morocco's return to the African Union, nearly 32 years after leaving it. Morocco left the AU in 1984, after the AU recognized the independence of Western Sahara.

They will also elect members of the African Union bureau, which Algeria represents in the North Africa region.

Source: MENA