The Heat discusses outcomes of African Union summit

The Heat

Delegates from more than 50 member states gathered in Ethiopia last week for the African Union’s 24th summit. Discussions included endorsing the creation of a 7,500-member African force to fight Nigeria’s extremist group Boko Haram that has threatened to spread its deadly insurgency.

The two-day biannual event also included discussions on women’s empowerment, a pledge to strengthen cooperation with China, and a 50-year growth plan for the continent. CCTV’s Girum Chala reported this story from Addis Ababa.

The Heat is joined by Kenya’s former ambassador to Zimbabwe Maria Nzomo, currently the director of the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies at the University of Nairobi.

Also joining the Heat are experts in Africa who discussed efforts by the African Union to get a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.

* William Gumede, an associate professor with the School of Governance at the University of Witwatersrand.

* Ambassador Robin Sanders a former U.S. ambassador to Nigeria and the Republic of Congo and now runs the advising firm FE3DS.