ADDIS ABABA: The African Union (AU) Wednesday officially launc hed the year of peace and security in Africa, but admitted raging conflicts in some parts of the continent showed no sign of abating.

AU leaders declared 2010 a year of peace and security in Africa at their summit in August last year in Libya, hoping this would help marshal collective continental efforts to douse all raging conflicts and wars in Africa.

But, officially launching the year of peace and security, AU Commission chairman Jean Ping said some conflicts in Africa seemed intractable, citing the political stand-off in Madagascar and sectarian conflicts in Somalia and Sudan.

"In 2009, conflicts and crises again spilled a lot of blood. However, we hope 2010 will be the year for durable solutions and the culmination of processes...to e ntrench peace, security and well being for people in Africa.

"As I like to say, our ultimate aim is to preserve African citizens from fear, and poverty," he added.

Ping said the AU was frustrated at the lack of progress in resolving the political stand-off in Madagascar between ousted leader Marc Ravalomanana and coup leader Andry Rajoelina.

The two sides have been engaged in talks for several months, brokered by the AU and other mediators, but remain poles apart.

"As you are aware, the crisis in Madagascar has given us a hard time. Neither the adoption of the Transitional Charter nor the agreements of Maputo and the Additional Act of Addis Ababa were enough to dissolve the gordian knot of the distribution of ministerial portfolios," Ping said.

The AU boss, who has just returned from yet another shuttle diplomatic mission to Madagascar, said the two sides had been given 15 days to come to agreement.

In Somalia, he said the Al Shabaab and Hisbul Islam groups continued to frustrate peace efforts in the country, spurning offers of dialogue which President Ahmed Sharif had made to end the long running Somali conflict.

Ping said he hoped AU peace-keeping troops in Somalia will be increased to be effective in maintaining peace and security in the country.

"Al Shabaab and Hisbul Islam continue to undermine the national reconcialition process by repeated attacks. This further (worsens) the humanitarian and security situation in the country," he said.

But the AU boss said there were signs of progress in the multiple conflicts in Sudan, with national elections due in April this year, and two referendums next year.

"Regarding Darfur, I hope that the implementation of the Mbeki Report will be a lasting solution," Ping said, referring to the outcome of the mediation efforts of former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

In Guinea, where the military seized power and appears to be losing political grip, the AU boss said ''we hope for the return to constitutional rule as soon as possible.''

He said while the AU could not guarantee absolute peace and security in Africa, ''the AU Commission will spare no effort to mark this year as a milestone because it will enable the installation of a socio-political propitious to rooting sustainable peace and security in Africa.''

"We are not claiming that during 2010 there will be no crisis and no conflict in Africa," Ping said.