An annual three-day summit of African leaders got underway in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Sunday, with the official agenda likely to be overshadowed by various crises on the continent, according to dpa. While the official theme of the summit is boosting Africa's infrastructure, crises in Somalia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo were likely to be high on the agenda. Bernard K Membe, chairperson of the executive council and Tanzania's foreign minister, said in an opening statement that the AU meeting would consider the situation in the three nations. The attendance of Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, freshly elected on Saturday, is providing some hope of progress in Somalia. The nation on the Horn of Africa has been in the grip of a bloody insurgency for the last two years. But there is hope that the moderate Islamist leader can bring a semblance of peace to the nation in the wake of the departure of occupying Ethiopian forces. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is also attending the conference, bolstered by the Friday decision of the opposition party the Movement for Democratic Change to agree to form a unity government. Conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where Tutsi rebels have been wreaking havoc, will also be discussed, Membe said. Madagascar is also embroiled in chaos. A combined strike and demonstration in Antananarivo a week ago ended in deadly riots and widespread looting. On Saturday the capital's mayor Andry Rajoelina said he was taking over running the country from President Marc Ravalomanana. Ravalomanana did not attend the summit, sending his prime minister in his stead. Two seats from the 53-member bloc were vacant at the opening of the summit, as the governments of Mauritania and Guinea have both been suspended due to military coups. Membe also said that the summit would consider the effects of the global economic crisis, which have been trickling into Africa. "The recent global financial crisis and ensuing economic recession in the developed countries will have long-term depressing effects on remittances, investments and trade," he said. "Some African countries are beginning to feel the pinch of this global crisis." "Nevertheless, I am optimistic because our deliberations will dwell on all these issues in an attempt to make our continent a better place to live," he added.
