The preparatory meeting for the experts of the 12th meeting of the African Union (AU) Specialized Technical Committee on Defense, Safety and Security (STCDSS), was launched on Sunday in Egypt for the first time, Daily News Egypt reported.

The meeting is being held 15-19 December 2019 in the New Administrative Capital. Over the three-day meeting, African experts, officials as well as members of the Peace and Security Commission of the African Union will address several issues related to defense, security and safety.

The expert meetings will continue over 3 days, including several sessions to discuss a number of issues related to defense, security, and safety in the African continent, and the AU Peace and Security Commission oversees the agenda of the meetings.

The committee is required to conclude its work by drafting a detailed report on the outcomes of the discussions after the approval of member states to present it at the meeting of chiefs of staff of African countries.

According to a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Defense, the meeting comes within the framework of Egypt’s efforts to bring security, peace, and development to Africa, especially in light of Egypt’s presidency of the African Union for the year 2019. The meeting aims also to reach unity in decision making among the member states, and to stop any threats or hostilities facing Africa.