Nairobi is abuzz with anticipation as the Africa Climate Summit is set to kick off on Monday, with the participation of more than 20 heads of state and an impressive assembly of over 30,000 delegates.
Among the prominent figures joining the summit are US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry; UN Secretary-General, António Guterres; President Arif Alvi of Pakistan; Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland; Graca Machel, Mozambique’s pioneering Education Minister; and senior officials from USAID.
President Évariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, who also holds the position of chairperson of the East African Community (EAC), was the first leader to touch down in Nairobi for this momentous event.
He received a warm welcome at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from Alfred Mutua, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Susan Nakhumicha, the Health counterpart.
Cabinet Secretary Mutua extended his warm greetings to Azali Assoumani, President of the Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), upon his arrival in the country.
Adding to the list of visiting presidents are Nana Akufo-Addo from Ghana and Brahim Ghali, President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
They were respectively greeted by Moses Kuria, Cabinet Secretary for Trade, and Mutua.
Sierra Leone’s President, Bio, also graced the event with his presence, arriving in the country early Monday ahead of the summit.
The inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS) 2023 carries the theme “Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World.”
This groundbreaking summit is a collaborative effort between the African Union Commission and the host nation, Kenya.
This summit presents an invaluable opportunity for African nations to formulate concrete plans, allocate necessary resources and investments, advocate for systemic changes in global finance, exchange knowledge, and actionable solutions, and update Africa’s vision for development and climate sustainability.
