African leaders meet at AU summit in Ethiopia

The feuding Sudanese leader Omar Hassan al-Bashir and his southern counterpart Salva Kiir have come face to face at this year’s African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Their meeting raised hopes for a negotiated settlement of oil and border disputes since South Sudan became independent from the north a year ago.

African leaders gathered to resolve the military coups in Mali, which has tarnished the continents democratic credentials.

Mali’s al Qaeda-linked local and foreign jihadists have seized control of the largely desert north.

African Union Peace and Security Commissioner, Ramtane Lamamra said: “Council reiterates this determination to impose sanctions against terrorists and criminal groups operating in Northern Mali, as well as against any other armed groups that impede the search for solution to the crisis and the efforts of ECOWAS and AU.”

The summit is also an opportunity to find a new AU president to replace the incumbent Jean Ping of Gabon.

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