Devex: A.U. summit opens with focus on peace and migration
“The 32nd African Union summit opened at the A.U. headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday, with a ceremony that focused on peace and security, migration, and economic growth. The two-day assembly of 55 heads of state and government will establish the union’s priorities and outline its work program for 2019. The agenda addresses institutional reform, progress on the African Continental Free Trade Area, and updates on peace and security — alongside closed sessions concerning violent extremism, corruption, early marriage, and the adoption of continental legal instruments, open only to specific delegations…” (Roby, 2/11).

New Times: Kagame calls for joint efforts to fund health care in Africa
“President Paul Kagame has urged governments and members of the private sector from across Africa to work more collectively to fund health care systems on the continent. He delivered the message [Saturday] while speaking at the African Leadership Meeting on Investing in Health which took place at the 32nd Ordinary Summit of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. President Kagame chaired the meeting, which was attended by Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway, President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres among others…” (Kwibuka, 2/10).

Xinhua News: Historic leadership meeting calls for more investments in Africa’s health sector
“…The event, titled ‘The Africa Leadership Meeting: Investing in Health,’ was hailed as the first of its kind on the continent during the 32nd African Union (A.U.) Summit. Speaking at the conference, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is also the rotating chair of the A.U., said African governments should increase domestic expenditure in health sector to achieve national and international health-related goals, including the A.U. Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Kagame called on African governments to encourage the private sector to invest more in health-related services…” (2/9).

Xinhua News: U.N. chief says insecurity, climate change remain Africa’s top dev’t threats
“The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday identified peace and security as well as climate change as the two major challenges the African continent presently faces. The U.N. chief made the remarks while addressing the opening session of the 32nd African Union (A.U.) assembly summit, which is underway from Feb. 10 to 11 at the headquarters of the A.U. in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa…” (2/10).