African Union Summit

By Zinhle Zikalala   The 38th African Union (AU) Summit, concluded over the weekend in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,  and was a historic moment for Africa’s economic...

It's by time countries in Africa work as one to better its economy. This means tearing down borders to allow Africans to freely move and trade within the continent.

Migration and the Ebola crisis in Africa are some of the concerns brought up for discussion at this year's African Union Summit. More than 50 heads of states gathered in South Africa to find resolutions to these issues.

The 25th African Union summit began in Johannesburg with an affirmation that the continent could achieve its Agenda 2063 goals of a prosperous and technologically advanced continent at peace with itself. Issues up for discussion include violent conflict, terrorism and migration.

African heads of state and government are gathering in Johannesburg for the 25th African Union summit, where the discussions are expected to centre on the crisis in Burundi, terrorist groups in Nigeria and Kenya, and the finalisation of the Continental Free Trade Area.

African leaders are in Pretoria for the 25th summit of the African Union, where discussions will target Agenda 2063. The agenda is a road map to achieve continental development goals. The theme of the summit puts the focus on empowering and developing the continent's women and girls.

South Africa is committed to reducing child mortality and improving the lives of women and children, President Jacob Zuma said during a meeting of the Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) in Addis Ababa on Monday.

South Africa has agreed to extend a loan of US$35-million to the government of Malawi to help with the availability of fuel in that country, following a meeting between President Jacob Zuma and new Malawian President Joyce Banda.

The new US$200m headquarters of the African Union were unveiled at the 18th African Union summit, which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2012.
• UN, AU strive for peace in Africa

Africa will target the establishment of a continental free trade area by 2017, according to a document issued at the closing of the 18th African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.