Addis Ababa, July 15, 2012 (SPS) - The 19th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union kicked off Sunday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, in the presence of Saharawi high-level delegation led by the President of the Republic and Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz.
The two-day summit will elect the chairperson of the African Union Summit and his deputy, and will examine the crises prevailed in the region, particularly the question of Western Sahara, in addition to the situation in Mali, Somalia and Great Lakes.
The main theme of this summit is “boosting intra-trade in Africa”, in the perspective of reviving trade exchanges between states of the continent.
Opening the summit, Chairperson of the African Union Summit Dr. jean Ping indicated that the “solutions of African problems are in the continent nowhere else.”
“The Continent’s leadership and its adoption to all initiatives related to Africa are of great importance,” said Dr. Ping, adding “this requires the promotion of the Continent’s unity and solidarity.”
Moreover, the summit is marked by the participation of new presidents, Mohamed Moursi of Egypt and Macky Sall of Senegal, in addition to the Prime Minster of the Kingdom of Lesotho Mr. Motsoahae Tom Thabane.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of Kuwait, also attends the summit as a guest of honor. (SPS)
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