African leaders as well as their representatives from 53 African
Union (AU) members are gathering in the Sudanese capital Khartoum
for the 6th AU summit that opens today.
During the two-day meeting with the theme of "Education and
Culture," participants will discuss issues of education, culture
and science in accordance with the cultural heritage of the diverse
region. But the status of peace and security on the continent and
issues concerning UN reform will also be on the top agenda.
Preparing for the summit, AU foreign ministers Friday began
their executive council meeting that ended on Sunday evening.
Sudan, which is celebrating its first anniversary of the
southern Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement, had been considered
to take over the AU chairmanship from Nigeria after the summit,
since host nations have traditionally assumed the continental
body's rotating chair.
But its recent disputes with neighboring Chad, who is vehemently
opposing Sudan's hosting of the summit, has added great
uncertainties to its bid to take over the AU leadership.
The AU, consisting of 53 members and modeled on the EU, was
launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African
Unity.
(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2006)
