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Ethiopia: AU summit set to deal with emerging conflicts in Africa

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

January 25, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA) – The long-running and renewed conflicts in Africa and their resolutions towards is said to take centre stage during the African leaders summit opening on Sunday in Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

The two-day African Union summit to be held under the theme: “Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance” is expected to tackle the ongoing crises in Mali and the deployment of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) to battle Islamist insurgents in the West African nation.

According to AU officials, other top agendas set on table for discussion include renewed conflicts in the Central African Republic (CAR), Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia as well as on conflicts between Sudan and South Sudan.

The Executive Council, the AU Foreign Ministers, on Friday wrapped up their two-day ordinary Session by considering the draft decisions and declarations to be forwarded with recommendations for the actual Summit of Heads of State and Governments.

Newly elected AU Commission chief, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has urged member states of the continent as well as the international community at large to jointly work together to tackle the conflicts that are being leading challenges affecting peace and development in Africa.

“It is my fervent hope that we maintain a proper and healthy balance between achieving peace and advancing development” she said adding “The continent cannot advance without succeeding on both fronts simultaneously”

During the summit, African leaders will also elect new chair for the 54-member continental bloc.

Government sources said Ethiopian new Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, will takeover the AU position replacing current chair, Benin’s President Yayi Boni.

Mean while Russia’s envoy to Africa, Mikhail Margelov, is set to meet delegations and officials from South Sudan on the sidelines of the African Summit.

After Attending the AU summit in Addis Ababa, Margelov will head his way to Sudan, Niger and Morocco.

Rival leaders of Sudan and South Sudan are due to meet on the side lines of the summit in Addis Ababa in an effort to resolve disputes over oil, border, security issues and over their implementation after fresh round of talks between the two sides faced difficulties last week.

Despite agreements reached last September on a number of outstanding issues Khartoum and Juba however have failed to comply.

(ST)

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