African leaders who gathered at 32nd AU Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia have been deliberating on ways and measures to find a permanent solution to the issue of refugees.

The problems associated with refugees on the African continent, according to the leaders, have been a major topic impeding the socio-economic growth of Africa.

The leaders have, therefore, thought it wise to find lasting strategies to fight the menace.

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The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, expressed worry over the matter with Ghana’s president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, also discussing means of fighting terrorism and establishing peace and security in member countries.

The former chairman of the AU, Paul Kagame who was equally concerned emphasized the need for all African nations to accept the Intercontinental Free Trade movement and Passport.

Other speakers including Bill Gates, FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, President of Philistine, Mahmoud Abbas and other world leaders were present to support the summit.

A special event was held to usher into office a new Chairman for the AU, Abdul Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt.

As a founding member of the Organisation of African Unity, Egypt is not new to such important continental roles.

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However, this is the first time since the AU was founded in 2002, that Egypt gets to steer the organisation’s affairs after it was suspended in 2013 from the union following the political crisis in the country during the 2011 Arab Spring.

The 32nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) focused the theme “Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa”.