– By THE AFRICA BAZAAR Staff Writer

The African Union summit is underway in Equatorial Guinea as leaders across the continent gathered in the city of Malabo to discuss issues of food security and agriculture on the continent. Weaved into their discussion is the issue of terrorism, the growing concerns and the fears that have arisen as result of extremist terrorist groups sowing terrorist acts across Africa.

AU President Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz called for more concerted efforts regarding the operations of the “African Mechanism for Peace and Security,” noting that terrorism and extremism are threats to African economies.

African Union Commission Chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
joined him, reiterating the significant need to immediately address and find solutions to the issue of terrorism. “We need conditions of peace and stability and for our people not to be under threat from armed gangs, terrorists and human and arms traffickers and from poachers,” the Chairperson said.

She called on stakeholders to work toward peace and stability to “create conditions for our people to return home without fear, to plow their fields and to rebuild their lives.”

Among the agenda, leaders will discuss various ways to make agriculture attractive on the continent, especially to the continent youth, and also how to help support small stake farmers and women through financing and training programs.

The summit ends Friday, June 27.

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