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African summit kicks off in Addis Ababa

By Mustafa Almerini

RABAT, Feb 10 (KUNA) -- The 32nd African Union (AU) summit will kick off later on Sunday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa with the participation of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
This year's summit will focus on refugees and internally displaced persons, as conflicts, violence, and civil war continues in a number of African countries, leading to migration, displacement; hindering development and reform efforts.
In this regard, Chairman of the AU Commission Moussa Faki said at a meeting of executives' council held on Saturday, that the continuous conflicts and crises are the key reasons behind displacement and migration, stressing the need to find a solution for this problem by 2020.
He referred to progress made in resolving some crises in the Horn of Africa such as the reconciliation between Ethiopia and Eritrea after two decades of armed conflict, in addition to the signing of the Khartoum Agreement between conflict parties in Central Africa.
The Summit will also discuss security and terrorism, as well as development, economy and investment in infrastructure.
It will also discuss climate change, reform of African Union structures, financing, and adoption of a unified African passport to facilitate the movement of Africans within their continent, stimulate economic growth, and establish a common economic market.
Heads of State and Government will discuss, as part of the agenda, the reports of the committees assigned to them, most notably the report of the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, on the reform of the UN Security Council.
Gabon President Ali Bongo's report on the 24th Conference of States Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and African preparations for the Global Negotiations on Climate Change, 2019 will be presented as well.
Other reports include the one of President of Cote d'Ivoire, Hassan Vatra on the Africa Agenda 2063 and the report of the President of Nigeria, Mohamed Boukhari, on African fight against Corruption.
The AU leaders are expected to discuss a number of projects and treaties during the summit, including a draft treaty for the establishment of the African Drug Agency, the draft statute for the Union's International Center for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa, the Union's Transitional Justice Policy and the draft amendment to Article 35 of the African Cultural Renaissance Charter.
The African Union was established in 2002 on the heels of the Organization of African Unity, which was established in 1963 and has more than 50 member states.
One of its main objectives is to achieve integration among its countries, to promote peace, security and stability in the African continent and to prepare the appropriate conditions to enable the continent to play its role in the global system and economy. (end) mry.nhq