Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Luanda, Angola, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

The high-level meeting, which focuses on strengthening mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution in Africa, is expected to examine ways of improving the continent’s response to growing peace and security challenges.

Shettima arrived in the Angolan capital on Saturday and was received by senior Nigerian officials and representatives of the host government, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha.

Among the Nigerian officials at the arrival were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.); Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh; and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

Also present were the Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the Nigerian Mission in Angola, Ambassador Maxy Ogbede, and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

The extraordinary summit is expected to focus on strengthening the AU’s early warning and early response systems, preventive diplomacy and coordination between the continental body, member states and Regional Economic Communities.

African leaders are also expected to consider measures to enhance the effectiveness of the AU Peace and Security Council in addressing conflicts, terrorism, violent extremism and other emerging threats across the continent.

The meeting will further examine sustainable African funding for peace and security operations and ways to strengthen the African Peace and Security Architecture and African Governance Architecture.

Ahead of the leaders’ session, foreign ministers and senior officials from AU member states met in Luanda on Saturday for the 26th Extraordinary Session of the AU Executive Council to prepare the agenda for the summit.

Following his arrival, Shettima received briefings from the Foreign Affairs Minister and officials of the Nigerian Mission on issues expected to feature prominently during the deliberations.

The Vice President is expected to present Nigeria’s position on behalf of President Tinubu and participate in discussions aimed at advancing continental cooperation on conflict prevention, peacebuilding and dispute resolution.

The Presidency had earlier said Nigeria would use the summit to reaffirm its commitment to strengthening peace and security efforts across Africa.