The 20th African Union Summit, which featured the theme of “Pan Africanism” and “African Renaissance,” took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from Jan. 21 through 28, 2013.
In her opening speech, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma – the new chair of the AU Commission, and the first woman to hold that role – noted that the summit took place at a time when Africa was seen worldwide as the continent of the future, with enormous possibilities and opportunities.
To take advantage of the continent’s young and growing population, its natural resources and its improving business and political climate, Zuma said, Africa would need to overcome several challenges, including its infrastructure and education backlogs and the issues of health, youth development and food security, as well as the threat of climate change.
Zuma also underlined the need to work with partners from across the world on the agenda set by the AU.
Lauding progress in Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan as well as in Madagascar, Dr. Zuma warned of the re-emergence of conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea Bissau and the Central African Republic (CAR).
"In Mali and the Sahel, we are now facing new, multi-faceted challenges with broader regional and continental implications," she said.
Member states, Regional Economic Communities and the African Union must continue to join their efforts towards achieving sustainable peace in Africa, with the assistance of the international community, she said.
While attending the summit, Mussie Hailu, URI’s Continental Coordinator for Africa, introduced URI’s Purpose, Vision and Mission to the delegates of the African Union’s member states.
He explained that URI wants to address the problems of violent extremism and religiously-motivated violence in Africa by working in close partnership with African Union member countries, regional organizations, the African Council of Religious Leaders, African interfaith and peace organizations to promote a culture of peace, interfaith harmony, democracy, environmental protection and social progress in Africa.
“Using this opportunity, I am also lobbying member states of the African Union to join URI Africa’s campaign to proclaim Golden Rule Day to enhance interfaith harmony, a culture of peace and co-existence among nations, and to include peace education in their country’s school curriculum,” Mussie said.
Ambassador Hailu also reached out to policy makers who attended the meeting from countries in which URI does not yet have a presence.
