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Merkel promised that Germany would continue to support the African Union’s work. Many problems remain to be solved in the fields of peace and security policy.

Concerning Libya, Merkel said that Qaddafi “no longer controls the fate” of Libya. The Federal Government and the African Union agree that the country needs a solution quickly.

Merkel and Ping also discussed the declaration of independence by South Sudan, expected this month. They agreed that it will now be important to “breathe life into the country”.

Perspectives of a political and economic integration in Africa were further discussed, as was the creation of an African peace and security architecture.

The Federal Chancellor will travel to Kenya, Angola and Nigeria next week.

The African Union (AU) was founded in 2002 as the successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU). According to its founding charter, the AU mandate covers all fields of political, economic and social co-existence in Africa, particularly the advancement of economic and political integration, safeguarding peace and security, sustainable development and as well as the promotion of democracy, human rights and good governance. The African Union is in addition authorised to speak on behalf of Africa at a global level. It has 53 members, meaning all countries of the African continent are represented, except Morocco.