Security - African leaders rose Monday from two days of intensive talks on the conflicts affecting the continent with a resolve to pep up the continent's response to the crises by making the African Standby Force (ASF) a reality.
The ASF is part of a longer term project to boost Africa's capacity to handle conflict, and is the last part - though yet unimplemented - of the African Peace and Security Architecture.
The force has been slated to become a reality in 2012, but that date was missed and eventually pushed forward to 2015.
But African leaders are now seeking a quick establishment of the force.
'We shall operationalise this important aspect of our security in months if a number of steps are met,' said African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security Ramtane Lamamra. 'There is absolute necessity for Africa to empower a rapid deployment force.'
The just-concluded Summit decided to make the ASF one of its core issues of discussion when it reconvenes 25 May in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the celebrations marking 50 years of the continent's unity.
Pana 29/01/2013