Khartoum- The African Union concluded its 29th ordinary session on Tuesday, in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, during which African leaders have discussed the reform of the Union’s institutions, youth issues, and the need to end conflict and wars in the continent.

While the summit has seen heavy presence by African leaders and heads of states, it was marked by the absence of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi.

The abstention of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who used to attend African summits, has also raised major questions.

The summit has been conducted under the theme, “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investment in the Youth”, and reviewed reports on AU reforms, current peace and security in the continent, implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2018 commission’s budget, among others.

In a news conference, AU Commission Head Moussa Faki Mahamat said the summit has focused on three main issues, including: reforming of the Union’s institutions, promoting the role of the youth and ending wars in the continent.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda submitted a report before the heads of states and governments about reform proposals, urging African countries to unify efforts to speed up the implementation of necessary improvements in the pan-African body.

The head of the AU commission said in his speech that Africa would deploy all its efforts to make 2020 the year of “silencing the sounds of guns”, by adopting unified stances that promote peace in the continent.

He also stressed the importance for African leaders to prevent the emergence of conflicts and wars, by maintaining close cooperation with the concerned bodies within the AU.

Mahamat also called for promoting partnerships between the AU and the United Nations, in particular in peace and security.

On Eritrea-Djibouti recent developments, he noted that a fact-finding mission sent to Djibouti has concluded its mission and was heading to Eritrea to execute a similar mission, after which it will present its reports to AU assembly.