The South Sudanese ambassador in Ethiopia says President Salva Kiir will not attend the AU summit that will also discuss the South Sudan peace process.
Akuei Bona Malwal says the president is busy in Juba forming a new cabinet.
Mr Akuei told Eye Radio that the president is being represented at the summit by the chief negotiator Nhial Deng Nhial, and Foreign Minister Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin.
“We decided that he better attends to the business at home and delegated Nhial Deng Nhial and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to attend the summit, which is actually a normal practice, and he is not alone,” he said.
“There a lot of heads of state who are not attending because they have other issues at home.”
Heads of states are scheduled to meet tomorrow at the summit in Addis Ababa.
Rosemary Wilfred contributed to this report.