Obama To Address AU Summit Later Today

US President Barack Obama is due to address the African Union in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, on the last day of his trip to East Africa, according to a BBC report.

He is the first US leader to deliver a speech at the 54-member body, with security and action against terrorism likely to dominate the agenda.

On Monday, Mr Obama praised Ethiopia as an “outstanding partner” in taking on militant Islamists.

He said Ethiopia had weakened al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group in Somalia.

The US president was speaking after talks with Ethiopia’s PM Hailemariam Desalegn, during the first ever visit by a US president to the East African state.

He also called on Mr Hailemariam to improve Ethiopia’s record on human rights and good governance.
“I don’t bite my tongue too much when it comes to these issues,” he said at a joint press conference in the capital, Addis Ababa.

Some rights groups have criticised Mr Obama’s visit, warning that it could lend credibility to a government accused of jailing journalists and critics.