AU summit opens in Addis Ababa

The 20th African Union (AU) summit has opened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday.

The theme of the Summit is “Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance”

President Sata was among other heads of state that attended the official opening of the AU summit.

Other African leaders that attended the summit were Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, Nigerian President Jonathan Goodluck, Kenyan President Paul Kagame, Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba and South African President Jacob Zuma among many others.

The summit started with the AU national anthem and was followed by the opening speech of the AU Commission Chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Dr. Zuma called upon the African continent to look for ways of establishing a common destiny to bring about prosperity on the continent.

She also noted the need to support countries that are in post-conflict situations to consolidate their reconstruction and peace building efforts.

And United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called upon African leaders to put special emphasis on women and girls.

Mr. Ban said women and girls had the ability to foster peace and development in the continent.

Mr. Ban said there was also need to stand against all forms of violence and speak out against rape and sexual violence.

He further stated that Africa had made tremendous progress in reducing HIV infection and AIDS deaths.

Mr. Ban said the UN would continue to contribute to sustainable development in all continents and called upon all African leaders to uphold the continent’s commitment to peace, sustainable development, democratic rule and human rights.

ZANIS