The ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union has opened on Sunday in South Africa.

African leaders congratulated newly-elected presidents including Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, Mozambique’s Filipe Nyusi and Pakalitha Mosisili of Lesotho.

They also congratulated Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir for conducting a successful poll.

This warm welcome came on the heels of a court order issued by a Pretoria High Court Judge, Hans Fabricious preventing President Al-Bashir from leaving South Africa.

The ceremony featured statement by President Buhari and other newly elected and outgoing Heads of State and Government.

President Buhari, on Saturday chaired the Peace and Security Council meeting at the 25th AU Summit holding in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Talks at the meeting largely focused on security challenges facing some African countries, as participants sought better ways of tackling insurgency in some West African countries.

•Extracted from a Channels TV report. Photo shows AU Headquarters