African heads of state are attending the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia against the backdrop of worsening drought, famine and growing threat from jihadist insurgencies across the continent.
In the run-up to the two-day summit (February 18th and 19th) , international relief agencies launched appeals for the drought-stricken Horn of Africa where tens of millions of people in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia face acute famine following more than two years of poor rainfall patterns.
Relief agencies warn that it is the worst humanitarian crisis for the region in more than two decades.
This humanitarian concern has been compounded by security challenges posed by jihadists in West Africa’s Sahel countries, an Islamist insurgency in the southern African state of Mozambique, rebel activities in central Africa especially DR Congo, and worsening relations between the country and Rwanda.
African leaders will also be challenged on how to neutralize threats from bloody insurgencies in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Chad and Nigeria.
They will also meet over setting the momentum for inter-Africa trade spurred by the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
WN/as/APA