French President Francois Hollande today told African leaders it is time for their continent to take charge of its own security as a major summit went ahead against the sombre backdrop of mourning for Nelson Mandela.
Hollande unveiled a major new initiative under which France would train 20,000 African troops per year as part of efforts to give the continent a greater capacity to handle its own security problems.
But what would have been a headline-making pledge on any other day was overshadowed as the summit succumbed to the emotion that has washed over much of the world in the wake of Mandela's death.
Hollande began the two-day meeting, attended by some 40 African leaders, by delivering an emotional tribute to the hero of the anti-apartheid struggle.
"He became a global hero because he was profoundly human and profoundly good," the French Socialist leader said.
Flags above the presidential Elysee Palace flew at half-mast and, prior to a minute's silence, the leaders listened to a recording of part of Mandela's Nobel Peace prize acceptance speech.
South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, standing in for President Jacob Zuma, said Mandela would not have wanted his death to hold up business for too long.
"Last night, when the news broke out, we were saying to each other: What do we do? Do we pack our bags? Do we hide under our beds and lament his passing on?" she said.
"We agreed that this is not the way he would have loved to be celebrated.
"Africa is not free until it is totally free from insecurity, from wars, from underdevelopment, from poverty and inequality.
"This is the befitting tribute to Madiba, to... Continue on this journey of discussing how we should continue working together to find African solutions to African problems."
Underlining France's desire to rid itself of its reputation for post-colonial meddling in Africa's affairs, Hollande said Africa had to develop the means to sort out its own problems.
Speaking less than 24 hours after he ordered French troops into the crisis-wracked Central African Republic (CAR), Hollande said Paris was ready to help turn tentative plans for the creation of an African rapid reaction force into reality.
France has deployed 1,200 troops to CAR in support of a larger African force that will attempt to stabilise a country in danger of being engulfed by sectarian violence which left more than 120 people dead on the streets of the capital Bangui yesterday.
