Prime Minister Bernard Makuza yesterday set off for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to attend the African Union (AU) Heads of State Summit on the situation in Somalia and Libya.

Makuza, who was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Louise Mushikiwabo, will represent President Paul Kagame at the two-day summit.

Speaking to The New Times before his departure, the Premier said that the summit which kicks off today would look at urgent ways to address the famine situation in Somalia and the crisis in Libya.

"On the first day, we will discuss the situation in Somalia and what can be done. On Day Two, Libya will dominate the talks,” Makuza said.

He noted that Rwanda would back efforts to end the two crises that the continent is currently faced with.

"Our position on Libya remains very clear. Like we said in the first place, we cannot support a government that kills its own people and we will maintain our position during the summit,” Makuza said.

The Premier said that there is an urgent need to bring the crisis in Libya to an end to avoid more loss of lives.

As part of the summit, the AU has organised a pledging conference on the humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa, taking place today.

The funding requirement is estimated at about US$2 billion. Up to now, only half of this has been raised.

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