The African Union has condemned a recent wave of military coups that has seen an unprecedented number of member states suspended from the bloc.
The putsches were among the main issues expected to be discussed at the summit, along with the AU’s ties to Israel and its response to a grinding war in the north of host country Ethiopia.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, chair of the African Union Commission, denounced a worrying resurgence of such military coups.
The AU has however been accused of an inconsistent response, notably by not suspending Chad after a military council took over following the death of longtime President Idriss Deby Itno on the battlefield last April.
Analysts say the body must be more proactive to prevent putsches.