KAMPALA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- African ministers meeting here at a Special African Union (AU) Summit on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons on Tuesday adopted a draft convention on forced population displacement.

Zainab Hawa Bangwa, deputy chairperson of the Executive Council of AU, said the adoption of the convention was a clear sign that Africa is interested in solving the refugee and internally displaced persons problem that is affecting the continent.

"We as Africans have sent a clear message that Africa wants to move ahead collectively. We in Africa we have decided to take the leadership and ownership," she told the over 600 delegates at the conclusion of the two-day ministers' meeting, which preceded the heads of state meeting scheduled for Oct. 23.

Julia Dolly Joiner, AU commissioner for political affairs, said African countries need to move collectively while solving the refugee and internally displaced persons crisis.

"We do not always get what we want but we should focus on a larger picture. We need to move with caution to ensure what we have decided is implemented," she said, describing the deliberations as intense.

Under the convention, states commit to do everything possible to address the plight and to find durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons.

The states agreed to establish high-level national mechanisms to address the problem of forced displacement with focus on the root causes.

They also agreed to develop national strategies for the full implementation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance by 2011.

According to experts, most of the forced displacement on the continent is caused by bad governance which leads to civil conflicts.

The outcomes of the ministers meeting will be forwarded to the heads of state who will meet here on Oct. 22-23 for approval.

Africa hosts the largest number of refugees and internally displaced persons in the world, whose population reaches a startling 17 million.