Psc Starts Meeting İn Addis Ababa Ahead Of Au Summit

The Peace and Security Council (PSC), the standing decision-making body of the African Union, started its meeting in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Thursday, a day before the African summit kicked off in the Ethiopian capital on Friday.



Guinean President Alpha Konde, the current head of the council, presided over the meeting, which was attended by a host of African leaders, including Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, African Union Commission Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and Peace and Security Commissioner, Ismail Chergui.



Konde dwelt in his opening speech to the meeting on the dangers posed to the African continent by the militant organization Boko Haram.



He said the organization, which is mainly active in Nigeria, posed a major security threat, not only to Nigeria, but to the entire West Africa region.



"African countries need to show solidarity against the terrorist group Boko Haram," Konde said.



He added that Ebola was about the second security threat to the continent, noting that the deadly virus had claimed the lives of a large number of people, especially in West Africa, and had its social and economic toll.



Zuma, meanwhile, said Ebola was receding, warning against complacency.



She said the conflict in South Sudan had also been a major cause of continental and international concern.



The African Union Commission Chairperson expressed sorrow that there was no solution to the conflict in South Sudan in sight, almost a year after it first erupted.



The PSC is expected to take decisions on the various issues under discussion in the meeting later on Thursday.



The council has 15 member states, including five permanent member states. The presidency of the council is assumed by a new country every year on a rotation basis.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Addis Ababa