A decisive plan of action is needed to address the current scourge of terrorism in Africa‚ President Jacob Zuma said on Sunday.

In his opening remarks to the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Sandton‚ Zuma said it was important that the necessary preventative measures were established.

“We also need new ways in which we‚ as Africa and not our partners‚ manage our conflict situations‚” he asserted.

Africa‚ he said‚ was on a new path of development and growth that would enable it to take its rightful place in global affairs. However‚ the expectations from the continent’s people were high and it could not fail to redefine‚ lead and fund its own development and future.

“To realise our vision‚ we continue to support attempts to establish sustainable and predictable sources of funding for the African Union that will ensure less reliance on development partners for the implementation of our African projects and programmes.

“As the AU we also need to create the necessary enabling environment for our socio-economic development and integration‚” the South African president told fellow African heads of state at the summit.

“In particular‚” he added‚ “we need to continue to address the conflicts on the continent and come up with a decisive plan of action to address the current scourge of terrorism.”