The deputy UN chief on Thursday emphasized the 鈥渧ital importance鈥� of peace and security in Africa, thanking ambassadors in the Security Council for helping the UN shine a spotlight on the issue, and how all Member States can work with the African Union and other regional and sub-regional groups, to make lives more secure across the continent.
Speaking on behalf of the Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed听drew the attention of the Council to 鈥渁 number of worrying trends鈥� Africans face today.
鈥淚t has undercut the provision of public services, disrupted supply chains, slowed economic activity, and hampered peace agreements and conflict resolution鈥�, she said.
And from a military coup d鈥櫭﹖at in Sudan earlier this week to continuing conflict in northern Ethiopia鈥檚 Tigray region, and persistent threats of terrorism and violent extremism, she observed 鈥渁 rise in seizures of power by force鈥� and 鈥渁 proliferation of militias鈥� across Africa. 听
Broadened cooperation
She said that despite these 鈥渨orrisome developments鈥�, Africans continue to work relentlessly for a prosperous, sustainable and peaceful continent, based on the universal principles of human rights, as witnessed through growing cooperation between the UN, AU and sub-regional organizations on sustainable development, elections and peace processes.听
Ms. Mohammed cited the example of Libya, where the UN, AU, League of Arab States, and European Union, are working to support the ceasefire agreement and prepare for upcoming elections. 听
鈥淲e鈥檙e also working closely with the African Union and sub-regional organizations, to support the countries of the Sahel and beyond, including to address the return of mercenaries and foreign fighters to their countries of origin鈥�, she said.听
Mission support
UN special political missions, peacekeeping missions, and country teams in Africa continue to provide comprehensive support to other peace initiatives and political transitions - including in Cameroon, Mali, Somalia and South Sudan. 听
And once ongoing discussions on the division of responsibilities between the AU and Regional Economic Communities/Mechanisms are concluded, Ms. Mohammed 鈥渓ooks forward to continue harnessing the opportunities and strengths of each organization and build effective conflict prevention and resolution strategies as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change continues to affect the continent, particularly women and youth鈥�. 听
鈥楻eembrace global solidarity鈥�
The UN鈥檚 strong partnership with the AU and sub-regional organizations must be supported by all Member States.听
Citing听Our Common Agenda, she underlined the need to 鈥渞eembrace global solidarity鈥� to find new ways to work together for the common good of all people in every country.
Pointing to three urgent actions, she began with prioritizing the COVID-19 response in Africa through 鈥渁ccelerated vaccine distribution, strengthening national health systems and much needed investments in preparedness鈥�.听
The deputy UN chief reaffirmed the UN鈥檚 鈥渇ocus on sustainable development鈥�, with the听听for Sustainable Development and the AU鈥檚 Agenda 2063 鈥渁t the heart of our common efforts鈥�.
鈥淯ltimately, sustainable and inclusive development is our best chance to address the root causes of conflict and achieve a future of peace and prosperity for all鈥�, she said.
鈥楽pare no effort鈥�
To 鈥渃ontinue securing adequate, predictable, and sustainable resources that will bring to life development, peace and security mandates across Africa鈥�, was the deputy UN chief鈥檚 final point.
In this regard, she highlighted the centrality of coherent action across peace, development and humanitarian approaches, throughout the continent, 鈥渋n establishing a common vision, in ensuring complementarity and safeguarding of investments鈥�.听
Under the guidance of Member States, Ms. Mohammed attested that the UN would 鈥渟pare no effort to make our partnerships more effective to help all Africans build a more inclusive, prosperous, integrated, and peaceful continent鈥�.听
Africa asks
On behalf of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, encouraged more effective African engagement with UN preventive diplomacy capacities while calling for higher levels of solidarity and more understanding of current threats.
He also highlighted the need for more women and youth at all stages of conflict-related decision-making and management, including the听silencing the guns听initiative, and called for improved responses to security challenges, such as threats posed by terrorists and opposition activity which undermines democratically-elected governments.
Toxic narratives
With Kenya holding the presidency of听Security Council, the country鈥檚 President Uhuru Kenyatta warned that political differences and toxic narratives, which are proliferating on the continent, were being 鈥渨eaponized鈥� 鈥� even in the most stable democracies.
He also explained that UN and AU missions are dealing with increasingly sophisticated terror threats as multi-lateral responses are falling short in many countries, including on climate and vaccine access, urging 鈥渁 new conversation鈥� over Africa's security architecture.
Fiscal stability
The AU High Representative for Financing and the African Union Peace Fund, Donald Kaberuka said that to date, UN-AU cooperation, including on security, has been largely听ad hoc听and pushed for the Organization to reassess the importance of supporting African peace operations through assessed contributions.
He called for more predictable funding to address peace and security emergencies as well longer-term stability efforts.
