France, Feb. 15 -- African heads of state are gathering for their annual summit inEthiopian capital Addis Ababa this weekend, with escalating conflict in the DRC, the war and resulting humanitarian crisis in Sudan and cuts to aid from the US dominating the agenda.

The 38th African Union Summit brings together representatives from the 55 member states.

Held on 15-16 February, the conference will see the election of the AU's new chairman - a post whichrepresents some 1.5 billion people across the continent, at a time of heightened uncertainty and regional conflict.

The three candidates areMahamoud Ali Youssouf, a59-year-old career diplomat who has been foreign minister of Djibouti;Raila Odinga, the 80-year-old veteran Kenyan opposition p...