Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua was very confident that the ongoing mediation for the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by the African Union (AU) would produce an enduring solution.
At the end of the fourth Africa-German Forum in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, the president said African leaders would resolve the crisis in the DRC through dialogues with warring parties, according to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday.
"Nigeria as the current head of the Peace and Security Council of the AU, the Foreign Minister has just called a meeting with this council to deliberate on the way forward in the DRC crisis," he said at a news conference to end the fourth African-German Forum.
"I believe that with the ceasefire holding on now and efforts being made by regional leaders, including our own former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a UN special envoy, a solution will be found and the situation will not deteriorate," he added.
On the Zimbabwean crisis, the president also expressed confidence that efforts by the Southern African Development Community would resolve the dispute arising from that country's presidential election.
Yar'Adua disclosed that Germany has agreed to help Nigeria resolve its energy crisis.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is considered a crucial figure in defusing the tension across his western border with the DRC, cancelled plans to attend the Abuja conference.
In his contribution, German President Horst Koehler expressed regret that Kagame was not at the forum. He expressed optimism that the meeting in Nairobi would pave the way to stop the killings and violence in the DRC.
Koehler said African leaders must continue to think by the regional means as a way for a sustained solution to crises on the continent. He urged world leaders to unite and stop the violence on the African continent.
The three-day forum, which drew African and European leaders, the diplomatic community and civil society groups, was convened to look at the barriers standing in the way of genuine partnerships between Africa and Germany.