Leila Benali Kraiem (L), acting director of the Women, Gender and Development Directorate of the African Union (AU) Commission, receives an interview by Xinhua News Agency at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, on Jan. 28, 2014. The empowerment of African women is a key priority to accelerate sustainable development across the continent, Leila Benali Kraiem said here Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)