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African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat speaks during the opening session of the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Jan. 25, 2018. Moussa Faki Mahamat said on Thursday African leaders and citizens are still in shock at vulgar comments about the continent attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- African Union (AU) Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said on Thursday moves by the United States to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and U.S. financial contribution cut to UN peacekeeping operations are a serious challenge to multilateral diplomacy.

Mahamat was speaking during the opening session of the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

"The statements like those on Jerusalem and the reduction of the contribution to peacekeeping operations budget in the world will lead us to believe multilateralism is facing a crisis and the continent can't keep quiet about this," he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration announced in December that it recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital city and the relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The declaration to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital drew strong condemnation from much of the world, despite Israel hailing the move as "courageous and just decision."

The Trump administration has also indicated it plans to drastically cut its financial support to UN peacekeeping operations around the world possibly by up to 1 billion U.S. dollars.?