Johannesburg - Leaders gather in Johannesburg on Sunday for the African Union summit, with the global migration crisis, xenophobia and turmoil in Burundi expected to dominate an event that often avoids confronting thorny issues.
The continent's heads of state will meet for two days in the upmarket business and retail district of Sandton under the official theme of the "Year of Women's Empowerment and Development".
But the focus is likely to be on events overtaking the continent, including violence in Burundi over President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in office and the threat posed by Islamist militants.
"The situation in Burundi is still unresolved... and Nigeria, which is supposed to be an important player, still has challenges around Boko Haram," said Tjiurimo Hengari, research fellow at the South African Institute of International Affairs.
"I see the next two years being very challenging, especially in light of a new threat that is emerging on the horizon -- the issue of constitutional revisions to allow sitting heads of state third terms and fourth terms."
The summit in South Africa's economic capital comes two months after a wave of xenophobic violence swept parts of Johannesburg and Durban as African immigrants were hunted down and attacked by gangs.
At least seven people died in the unrest, which badly strained relations between South Africa and many countries in the region that were outraged at the targeting of their citizens.
In what African Union analyst Liesl Louw-Vaudran said was an unusual move, the subject of xenophobia will be tackled in a closed session before the opening ceremony on Sunday morning.
The session will also discuss migration -- and will likely focus on the flood of African and Middle Eastern migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean.
Mass drownings have claimed nearly 1,800 lives so far this year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
AFP
