The 28th ordinary summit of the African Union (AU) opens today in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.

The summit is expected to lead to the election of a new commission chairperson to replace outgoing leader Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

During the summit, member states are expected to deliberate a request made by Morocco to join the o after more than three decade absence from the body.

Lam Akol Ajawin, leader of the NDM movement in South Sudan, told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that some African leaders wanted the issue of South Sudan to be discussed before the situation in Somalia and other issues.

Akol called for an inclusive national dialogue facilitated by a third party, while accusing the region of failing to protect the signed peace agreement in South Sudan.

File photo: Leaders at the 29th Extraordinary Summit of the ‪IGAD Heads of States and Government in Addis Ababa, 9 December 2016 (IGAD Secretariat).