Ethiopia: 34th AU Summit kicks off virtually amid COVID-19 pandemic

African Union

ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The 34th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) kicked off virtually on Saturday amid COVID-19 concerns.

Speakers at the opening session include Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa who is also the outgoing chairperson of the AU, Felix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and incoming chairperson of the 55-member pan African bloc, as well as Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the AU Commission.

This year's season of the assembly meeting is being held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

During the two-day 34th AU Summit, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will officially take over the rotating chair of the continental bloc from the outgoing chair South Africa, according to the AU.