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South Africa wants AU summit to promote peace in Africa

Xinhua, July 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

South African President Jacob Zuma will take part in the upcoming African Union (AU) summit which will look at the state of peace and security in Africa, the Presidency said on Thursday.

The summit will be held in Kigali, Rwanda from July 15-18 under the theme: "2016: African Year of Human Rights with a particular focus on Women Rights."

South Africa is a member of the AU Peace and Security Council until March 31, 2018.

The summit comes amid the outbreak of violence in South Sudan in which over 100 people were killed and many others injured.

These shooting incidences threaten to draw back the promising gains made through the compromised Peace Agreement and the recently formed Transitional Government of National Unity, Zuma said earlier.

The AU summit's theme is of significance as the continent continues to reflect on progress made in the field of human rights, especially women's rights, at a time when the thrust of the African Union Agenda 2063: "A Shared Strategic Framework for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development," is being implemented and domesticated by AU member states and their respective regions, the Presidency said in a statement.

Other major issues of focus will include the financing of the AU, United Nations reform, the integration of the continent and the establishment of the Continental Free Trade Area, the implementation of NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) projects and the consideration of reports such as Aids Watch Africa and the African Trade and Implementation of the Kigali Water Action Plan.

The issue of finding a new AU Commission chairperson also features high on the summit agenda.

The countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have endorsed the candidature of Dr Pelonomi Venson-Motoi, the Foreign Minister of Botswana to succeed Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as AU Commission chairperson. Endit