UN General Assembly Opens in New York

World leaders yesterday September 25 began meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York, USA on the first day of the annual UN General Assembly debate with the African Union, AU, aiming to push for the resolution of conflicts on the continent. Some of the early speakers at yesterday's opening were US President, Barack Obama and French President, François Hollande.

Prior to the opening of the summit, the African Union issued a statement saying the outgoing AU Commission Chairperson, Dr Jean Ping and Chairperson-elect, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, would be participating. On Sunday September 23, the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon met with Dlamini-Zuma and congratulated her on her election. As priority issues for Africa, the Secretary-General underlined primary education, poverty eradication, response to natural disasters, and renewable energy. The two leaders agreed to work closely together on areas of common concern.

Both Ping and Dlamini-Zuma will participate in a series of meetings and activities on the margins of the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly that is holding on the theme: "Bringing about adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by peaceful means." Several meetings on conflicts in Africa will also be held such as the Ministerial Consultative Forum on Sudan and South Sudan scheduled for Thursday September 27. It will be co-chaired by the AU Commission Chairperson and UN Secretary-General.

Other meetings for the AU leadership on conflicts in Africa include a mini-summit on Somalia and two high-level meetings on the Sahel region and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to be hosted by the UN Secretary-General. The AU delegation to New York will also take part in a meeting of the General Assembly on the rule of law, a special event on mediation and consultations on Africa's contribution to the Post-2015 Development Agenda to be organised by the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. A meeting on the Nigerian economy will also be hosted by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The world's most pressing and intractable problems such as the conflict in Syria, Iran's alleged nuclear programme and Moslem protests across the world over recent insults to Islam, are expected to be raised. Leaders and aides from the 193-nation assembly meet from September 25 to October 1, 2012. More than 120 Heads of State and government are attending the meeting.