Africa needs to review its existing instruments on unconstitutional changes of Government to deter their occurrence, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta urged the continent's leaders gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the African Union Summit.

Kenyatta made the remarks as part of a progress report of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU-PSC) at the ongoing 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU.

"As you note excellencies, 2021 was marked by a spread of terrorism and violent extremism and the resurgence of unconstitutional change of Government across the continent. This is a worrying trend that needs to be arrested and dealt with decisively," President Kenyatta said.

"We need to take bold steps to address issues of terrorism and violent extremism and to undertake in depth review of our existing instruments on unconstitutional changes of Government in order to address the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of Government," he added.

The current Summit comes at a time when Africa has been beleaguered by six coups or attempted coups over the past 18 months.

Africa also faces a challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has ravaged the world for more than two years.

The continent continues to lag behind other regions in vaccine administration, with only 11 percent of its population fully vaccinated.

According to the World Health Organization, the vaccination rate needs to increase six times if the continent is to meet the 70 percent target set for the middle of this year.

The ongoing 35th AU Summit is being held under the theme: "Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: Strengthening Agro-Food Systems, Health and Social Protection Systems for the Acceleration of the Human, Social and Economic Development."