African leaders wrap up summit

By Addis Getachew and Seleshi Tessema

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) – Leaders of African nations wrapped up the 32nd African Union Summit in Ethiopia’s capital Monday with a determination to focus on the needs of African refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Speaking at the summit’s close, the current chair of the African Union, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, said the leaders resolved to address the issues in a “comprehensive manner”.

El-Sisi, who just took over the annual chairmanship from Rwandan President Paul Kagame, pledged to continue the agenda and programs introduced by his predecessor.

According to el-Sisi the leaders discussed a number of key issues, including economic integration and continental merging, the completion of an infrastructure strategy and post-conflict reconstruction.

A communique on the decisions reached is expected to be released Tuesday.

-Awards

Before the close, four African scientists received the African Union’s Kwame Nkrumah awards for scientific excellence.

Two women and two men were awarded under the categories of basic science, technology and innovation.

Prof. David Mark Richardson from South Africa, Prof. Naziha Atti from Tunisia and Prof. Aletta Schutte from South Africa were awarded the Laureate of Life and Earth Sciences awards while Egyptian Prof. Abdel-Shafy Fahmy Obada received the Laureate of Basic Science, Technology and Innovation award.

The winners each received checks for $100,000.