President Jacob Zuma will today head to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where the African Union Peace and Security Council will discuss the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire.

The African Union High-Level Panel for the Resolution of the Crisis in Côte d'Ivoire is expected to present a report during the meeting of Peace and Security Council which will take place on Wednesday and Thursday.

This comes after Zuma last week visited Mauritania for a second time to continue with the discussions for the resolution of the situation in Cote d' Ivoire in his capacity as a member of the African Union High-Level Panel.

The Panel was expected to engage on the outcome of its visit last month to the country where it met both leaders in conflict.

In a communique at the weekend, the panel expressed shock at what they termed a tragic evolution of the situation in Côte d'Ivoire and called for an end to the escalation of confrontation in the West African country.

The panel reiterated the AU's urgent appeal to the Ivorian parties to show utmost restraint, and refrain from acts and steps likely to undermine the ongoing efforts to end the crisis.

The panel also called for an immediate end to killings and abuses that led to the loss of human lives, as well as demonstrations, marches and other activities likely to degenerate into disturbances and violence.

The High-Level Panel was established by the Peace and Security Council at the Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Addis Ababa on January 28, 2011.

The AU High-Level Panel represents the five Regions of the Continent and is composed of the leaders of Burkina Faso (West Africa), Chad (Central Africa), Mauritania (North Africa), South Africa (Southern Africa), and Tanzania (East Africa)

The Panel was directed to conclude its work by the end of February and report back to the AU Peace and Security Council.

– BuaNews