US President Obama addresses African Union

(Vatican Radio) Barack Obama told African nations on Tuesday they needed to respect democratic rules and create jobs to avoid a slide into disorder.

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In the first speech by a serving U.S. president to the 54-nation African Union, Barack Obama spoke about the lessons that could be learned from Africa:

“Africa and its people teach us a powerful lesson: that we must uphold the inherent dignity of every human being,” he said. “Dignity… that basic idea that by virtue of our common humanity, no matter where we come from, or what we look like, we are all born equal, touched by the grace of God. Every person has worth, every person matters, every person deserves to be treated with decency and respect.”

President Obama also spoke about the political issues facing the continent. He said violence unleashed in Burundi by the president's bid for a third term in office showed the risks of ignoring constitutional rules.

"Africa is on the move, and a new Africa is emerging," he said at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, adding the continent's rapid economic growth was changing "old stereotypes" of a continent of war and poverty.

But he said there was an "urgent task" facing a continent whose 1 billion people will double in a few decades.

Obama said leaders should stick to the rules and the African Union should put pressure on leaders to stick to limits.

Obama's speech wound up a tour of Kenya, his father's homeland, and Ethiopia, a once famine-stricken nation which is on course to deliver 10 percent growth this year.