Uhuru calls for joint efforts to end conflicts in Africa
President Uhuru Kenyatta has decried the growing number of conflicts in Africa and called for upscaling of conflict resolution efforts on the continent.
“Regrettably, Ladies and Gentlemen, there are still too many conflicts brewing in Africa and which require our concerted effort to contain...I want to propose that time has come to scale up our conflict resolution efforts, particularly in Africa,” he said.
The President spoke on Monday at State House, Nairobi, during a virtual UN Security Council high-level open debate on the cooperation between the UN, regional and sub-regional organisations in conflict prevention and resolution.
Uhuru, who is also the chairperson of the African Union Peace and Security Council, told the meeting, which was chaired by the newly elected President of Vietnam, Nuyen Shuan Phuc, that peace and stability was a key priority for Africa.
“With nearly half of all global peace operations taking place in Africa, the AU has put the peace agenda high on its priority list; and established several institutional structures to address conflict prevention and resolution,” he noted.
To lessen the burden of conflicts in Africa, the President made five recommendations to the UNSC.
He proposed more support for peace-keeping efforts, consideration of the cross-border dimensions of conflicts and proper disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes.
Further, the President challenged the UN to be at the forefront in assisting countries that are emerging from conflict to develop their civil service and to provide more humanitarian assistance in conflict environments.
On strengthening peace keeping activities in Africa, the Head of State challenged the UN to consult and leverage more on regional conflict resolution mechanisms.
