African Union summit opens, overshadowed by DR Congo conflict

The escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo will dominate an African Union summit opening on Saturday, with the DR Congo president absent after Rwandan-backed forces seized a second major city on his territory.

The 55-nation body meets in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa as Africa faces devastating conflicts in the DR Congo and Sudan – as well as US President Donald Trump’s cuts to US development aid, which have hit the continent hard.

The African leaders represent about 1.5 billion people in a body long criticised for sluggishness, inefficiency and toothless statements.

With the spectre of a regional conflagration rising in eastern DR Congo, and international bodies increasingly sounding the alarm, the African Union has been criticised for its timid approach and observers have demanded more decisive action.

East and southern African leaders on February 8 called for an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire within five days, but fresh fighting erupted on Tuesday.

Outgoing African Union chair Moussa Faki Mahamat said on Friday that “the ceasefire must be observed”, adding there was a “general mobilisation” among African nations to stop the clashes.