The anti-persecution watchdog Open Doors is urging members of the African Union (AU) to do more to stop the violence across the continent.

African heads of state and government are meeting this weekend for the 38th African Union Summit.

It comes amid escalating conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan where fighting between the warring parties has intensified in recent weeks, leaving a trail of civilian casualties and hundreds of thousands of people displaced. In other parts of Africa, including in the Sahel and Somalia, conflict is continuing almost unabated.

Illia Djadi who is Open Doors’ senior analyst on freedom of religion and belief in sub-Saharan Africa, told Premier the leaders have a responsibility to address the situation:

“It’s a very significant meeting, and we have lot of expectations. This meeting comes against a backdrop of violence and conflict and sadly, security, or the lack of security, has become the big issue in Africa.

“African citizens have expectations. They want to be in peace and want to see a tangible solution, how to deal with this violence across the continent.”

Five African countries (Somalia, Libya, Sudan, Eritrea, Nigeria) are in the Top Ten on Open Doors’ World Watch List of places where it’s most dangerous to be a Christian. Illia Djadi said he wants to see AU leaders listening more to churches:

“It’s the responsibility of these nations to provide security for all, including religious minorities, including persecuted Christians.

“There's a clear need for the state to do more and that's why the churches across Africa, have particular expectations, because their church-goers are deeply affected.

“Churches are part of the civil society group, they are not deeply involved in the decision making, but they have their voice because they form a key group participating in debate, whether directly or on the sideline.

“So we want the African Union gathering to listen and to take into account the aspiration and the recommendation from civil society, particularly the churches, who are the key representatives of millions of citizens across the continent.”