Rice at talks on Africa conflicts

The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, is in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, for a series of meetings on some of Africa's worst conflicts.

Ms Rice will discuss the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Sudan with presidents and ministers from the countries involved.

All three countries have internationally-negotiated peace deals which are now in danger of collapse.

She will also hold bilateral talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

They are expected to discuss renewed tensions with neighbouring Eritrea.

A deadline set by an international border commission for the countries to demarcate their shared border expired on Friday without agreement.

Non-military solution

In a packed day of talks, Condoleezza Rice will attend a regional summit of the Democratic Republic of Congo and its eastern neighbours, and ministerial meetings on Somalia and on the issues between North and South Sudan.

Congolese government forces
Government troops are advancing on rebel positions in DR Congo

All three countries benefited from internationally negotiated peace agreements which are now perilously close to falling apart.

In just the last few days, fighting has intensified in eastern DR Congo, involving government troops and a rebel general, Laurent Nkunda.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Jendayi Frazer, said last week that Washington was trying to persuade both sides to look for a non-military solution.

Ms Frazer said the US would prefer one which would end with the disarmament of the rebel forces and with Gen Nkunda being allowed to go into exile.

Intractable problems

Somalia, too, is in the middle of a deepening crisis.

The power struggle in the government was solved by the resignation of the former Prime Minister, Ali Mohamed Ghedi, and his departure for the US.

But with his successor, Nur Hassan Hussein, still new in the job, President Abdullahi Yusuf has now been taken seriously ill and has been rushed to hospital in Kenya.

The US has no magic solution for these intractable problems, but the secretary of state does have clout.

She can invite African leaders to a meeting and they will come. And the US has money.

It is offering to help African countries who are willing to send troops to Somalia as part of a peacekeeping force.