Source: Swit Salone
The African Union (AU) summit has just kicked off in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. This year's theme is "Year of Women's Empowerment and Development Towards Africa's Agenda 2063″.

Sierra Leone's delegation to this year's session focused on women looked something like this!

In this photo: Ambassador Ismail Koroma, Sulaiman Kpukumu, Gender Adviser to President Koroma Naasu Fofanah, Commissioner of Anti Corruption Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr Samura MW Kamara, Bank Governor Momodu Kargbo, Ambassador Andrew Bangali and Momodu Wurie.

Just one woman, Naasu Fofanah, Gender Special Advisor to the President was included in the delegation of 12 from Sierra Leone. To this I am compelled to ask why no members of women's civil society groups or female parliamentarian, or other female government officials were in attendance?

In her opening address to the Meeting, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, African Union Chairperson, raised the fact that "If women are emancipated and uplifted, the human race will get better. The ownership of this idea across the continent is substantial to make the aspirations of Agenda 2063 happen". The Chairperson further stressed that "women's issues should be completely and fully integrated in our ten year plan of action for the implementation of Agenda 2063". She said that women should be integrated across of aspects of society and industries.

Looking at Sierra Leone's delegation to this year's summit, it seems we missed the memo on gender integration.

• Ethiopia
• Sierra Leone