The forthcoming African Union (AU) summit will discuss conflicts
between Chad and Sudan in the Darfur region and the chaos in
Somalia, AU Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare said in Lusaka
Wednesday.
In his private talks with Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa,
Konare briefed the president on the agenda of the summit to be held
in Sudanese capital Khartoum later this month.
After the talks Konare said he came to seek advise and guidance
on the issues, adding that it is important that the conflicts among
African countries are resolved immediately and the union would
foster peace and harmony in the region.
Chad has accused neighboring Sudan of sheltering and backing
Chadian rebels in its violent Darfur region and the dispute is
adding to insecurity in the area.
Konare said the union has however made huge progress in
resolving political conflicts on the African continent.
He expressed happiness at the peace prevailing in Angola and
Sierra Leone, and the improvement towards the attainment of peace
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Konare emphasized the need for more solidarity and integration
among African countries, calling for settlement of the issues of
migrants and the free movement of people on the continent.
Konare said that Africa is objecting to the demand to try former
Chadian president Hissein Habre, who has been arrested by
Senegal.
He said Africa should now assume a responsibility of solving its
own problems and object to sending its former leaders for trial in
another continent.
"Africans should now learn how to shoulder their own
responsibilities," he said.
The AU Commission chief said that the subject of sending Habre
for trial is a difficult subject, which needs a careful approach by
African countries during the AU summit to be held on January
23-24.
(Xinhua News Agency January 12, 2006)
