The African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government on Sunday ended its 35th ordinary session, where it outlined African priorities for 2022 and beyond.

The two-day summit, which followed a hiatus in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was marked with calls for urgent need to address military coups and terrorism on the continent.

Under the theme of “Building Resilience in Nutrition on the African Continent: Accelerate the Human Capital, Social and Economic Development,’’ they also stressed the continued African in addressing the impact of the pandemic on the growth of the continent.

Senegalese President Macky Sall, who took over the one-year term rotating AU chairmanship from President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Felix Tshisekedi emphasised the need to exert concerted efforts in responding to continental threats such as instability, climate change, and the devastating impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Sall called for continental cooperation in achieving the aspiration of Africa’s 50-year development Agenda 2063.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairperson of the AU Commission, emphasised the 35th ordinary session was a “fruitful’’ meeting, which came as the continent is facing “many challenges.”

Addressing the summit via video link, Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations (UN) on Saturday said the implementation of the UN sustainable development goals and the AU’s Agenda 2063 was the cornerstone of the relationship between the two organisations.

Mr Guterres took a swipe at the global financial system that has “abandoned African countries,’’ describing it as “morally decadent.’’

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, whose country hosts the AU headquarters, when addressing African leaders, took exception to the fact that seven decades after the formation of the UN, Africa remained a junior partner without meaningful input or role in the system of international governance.

(Xinhua/NAN)