Credit: All Africa.com
Addis Ababa — THE 19th African Union (AU) Summit opened here on Sunday with a pledge to immediately solve a number of crises that threaten to undermine the continent’s peace and security.
AU Commission Chairperson Dr Jean Ping observed in his opening statement to the Summit that a sort of ‘Jihadism’ was gripping Africa and called for concerted efforts “to check its spread”.
The continental body’s top administrator mentioned such groups as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Boko Haram in Nigeria and al-Shabaab in Somalia. Security issues are a top priority at the meeting, with leaders focusing on instability in Mali, renewed violence in DRC and the ongoing crisis between Sudan and South Sudan.
Dr Ping described the ongoing crisis in Mali as ‘undoubtedly one of the most serious threats to security and stability of the continent’ and informed the Summit that the AU was ready to send troops to the troubled Eastern DRC for peacekeeping purposes.
“The AU is prepared to contribute to the establishment of a regional force to put an end to the activities of armed groups,” the AU chairperson told African leaders who included DRC President Joseph Kabila and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
Meanwhile, the opening ceremony was coloured with the introduction of the three newly-elected heads of state each of whom made maiden speeches at the Summit. The new Senegal leader, President Macky Sall, announced to the Summit that his country has decided to host the trial of former Chadian dictator, Hissene Habre.
Categories: Africa