Heads of state and government officials from across Africa have gathered in Ethiopia's capital for talks primarily focused on ways to end to regional violence, including the conflicts in South Sudan and Libya. The 33rd African Union (AU) summit, which opened on Sunday in Addis Ababa, is being held under the theme "Silencing the Guns: Creating conducive conditions for Africa's development". "Ultimately, Silencing the Guns is not just about peace and security, but also inclusive sustainable development and human rights," he said. He highlighted "three challenges of particular urgency" in Africa: eradicating poverty, tackling the climate crisis and silencing guns. The AU has announced that the Democratic Republic of the Congo would replace South Africa as AU chair in 2021.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 09, 2020 17:26 UTC