国际英语新闻:22nd AU summit ends with commitment of agricultural transformation, regional peace

Other discussions during the 54-member bloc's biannual meeting focused on Central African Republic (CAR), South Sudan and Mali.

AU's Peace and Security Council on Wednesday discussed the crisis in CAR and examined the latest development in the political transition of the country.

CAR has erupted into conflict since resigned former rebel leader Michel Djotodia ousted President Francois Bozize after a coup in March and named himself as the first Muslim leader in the majority Christian country.

Currently, some 4,400 African MISCA peacekeeping force and 1, 600 French soldiers have been deployed to the CAR to try to restore order in the impoverished country.

Continuing violence and insecurity in the landlocked country has displaced over one million people, about 20 percent of the country's total population, and left about two million in need of humanitarian aid.

On Dec. 20, members of a national transitional parliament chose the female mayor of Central African Republic's capital Bangui Catherine Samba-Panza as interim leader, with the hope of leading the country out of chaos.

Given complicated and fickle situations in the country, the newly elected chairperson also expressed his opinions on CAR during the summit.

The launching of process of transition shall help restore peace and security in CAR, said Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, adding that he welcomed the decision.

Latest move of the international society to assist CAR's peace restoration came from the European Union (EU).

The EU Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, announced Friday that the European Commission is ready to give new support in the range of 25 million euros (About 34 million U.S. Dollars ) to the African Union-led operation in the Central African Republic.

As for South Sudan, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) mediation team on Friday urged the warring parties to respect and expeditiously implement the cessation of hostilities agreement after reports of sporadic fighting in the country.

South Sudan has been in turmoil since mid-December after forces loyal to President Salva Kiir started to fight against rebel groups headed by sacked Vice-president Riek Machar, who is also an experienced guerrilla fighter.

On Jan. 23, South Sudan's warring parties signed a ceasefire agreement in Addis Ababa, which was seed as progress after weeks of mediation talks.

However, it remains unclear how much the member countries can do to solve the crises.

For the unrest country Mali, AU High Level Representative to Mali and the Sahel, Pierre Buyoya, told a press briefing held on Wednesday during the summit that the continental bloc's efforts were now focused on helping the west African country to consolidate peace and respond to development challenges it is facing.

"We are now supporting Mali in terms of emerging from the crisis and contributing towards its response to challenges on development," said Buyoya, who is also former President of Burundi.

He said the AU's involvement in the west African country through such activities as mobilizing international military support was highly successful.