A special African Union summit has opened this morning in the Ugandan capital Kampala. The five-day summit will deal with the problems facing the estimated 17 million refugees in Africa and solutions for curbing the growing number of displaced people.

On Thursday, government leaders and heads of states will attend the conference. Libyan leader Muammar Khadafi, the current chair of the AU, will deliver the opening address.

According to the Ugandan newspaper the Daily Monitor: "The buzz is about whether or not indicted Sudan President Omar el Bashir will make the trip". The subject of General Bashir's visit was cast in the spotlight last week following President Yoweri Museveni's admission that his government would not arrest the Sudanese leader, who is wanted by the ICC for his alleged role in the Darfur crisis."

The paper writes that Amnesty International expressed concern over the invitation. The human rights organisation says that Uganda has an obligation to arrest President Bashir and hand him over to the ICC should he enter Ugandan territory.

Darfur refugee camp in Chad
Photo by Wikimedia Commons