African leaders, including outgoing African Union (AU) chairperson and South African President Thabo Mbeki, have begun their three-day summit here, this morning.

The meeting in the Portuguese speaking capital today is the second of the African statesmen after they met in Durban last year to launch the AU that replaced the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) founded 40 years ago. The leaders, most of whom met late yesterday to prepare a report on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad), are due to consider a number of issues as well as decide on various matters raised by AU ambassadors and the council of ministers in the past few days. First, they will elect and appoint AU commissioners including a chair and deputy who will run the daily affairs of the 53-nation body, before appointing members of the African committee of experts on the rights and welfare of the child.

The heads of state are also due to discuss the ratification of the Peace and Security Council, conflicts and peacekeeping efforts on the continent, especially in Liberia and Burundi as well as the setting up of key institutions such as the Pan African Parliament and the Court of Justice. Issues also to be considered and tabled by the delegates include several reports relating to common African Defence and Security Policy, human rights, elections and democracy, and the harmonisation of Nepad. The summit will also witness the change of leadership as President Thabo Mbeki hands over the reigns to host President Joaquim Chissano, who will run with the body for 12 months before passing the leadership to another African leader to be elected at the next summit.

Scores of leaders are attending the summit including the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. – BuaNews.