ACTIVISTS are demanding action by African leaders on the agricultural development of the continent and for them to promote gender equality.

Leaders from Africa’s 55 nations gathered in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa on Friday for the 36th ordinary session of the African Union Assembly of heads of state amid armed conflicts across the continent and the impacts of droughts and floods caused by the climate emergency.

The leaders are set to be joined at the summit by United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres and European Council President Charles Michel at a time when the continent has become the centre of attention in the battle between world powers.

The summit takes place at a time when some 46 million people across the Horn of Africa are in urgent need of food as famine ravages the region.

In a statement, activist group Action Against Hunger say women are disproportionately impacted by hunger but “are also in unique positions to prevent deadly malnutrition and to lead sustainable solutions to climate change, hunger and inequity in their households and communities.“

During the summit the group and a network of 55 national and international organisations will sign up to the Gender Is My Agenda campaign, to monitor the implementation of gender equality work throughout Africa.

As well as tackling the impacts of the climate emergency and security issues, the leaders will also spotlight the need for the continent to have permanent representation on the UN security council and an equal seat at the G20.

But Albert Siminyu, Action Against Hunger’s regional director for the Horn and Eastern Africa, said that with millions of Africans projected to be facing famine over the next year: “Preventing famine should be our top priority, and it is only through collaborative action that we can ensure progress.