Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                   African Union Summit Opens in Addis Ababa

   by VOA News

   Dozens of African leaders are in Addis Ababa Saturday for the opening
   session of the African Union summit.

   Zimbabwean President and African Union Chairman Robert Mugabe opened
   the summit, which this year focuses on human rights on the continent.

   Burundi crisis
   The crisis in Burundi is at the top of the leaders' agenda. The African
   Union is considering a plan to send 5,000 peacekeepers to the country
   to contain violence that has killed more than 400 people. Burundi's
   government says it will fight any foreign troops who attempt to deploy
   in the Central African country.

   Burundi's political crisis began last April when President Pierre
   Nkurunziza said he was running for a controversial third term. Human
   rights groups have denounced the government for cracking down on
   journalists and protesters in a bid to suppress political dissent.

   ''

   U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in attendance at the summit, warned
   that "leaders who stand by while civilians are slaughtered in their
   name must be held responsible." He said the crisis in Burundi required
   a "most serious and urgent commitment."

   Among the African leaders attending the opening session in Ethiopia's
   capital were South African President Jacob Zuma and Egyptian President
   Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/african-union-summit-opens-in-addis-a
   baba/3169528.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/african-union-summit-opens-in-addis-ababa/3169528.html