‘Now is the time to unleash Africa’s power of peace’ Guterres told the Security Council
“Now is the time to unleash Africa’s power of peace,” he said speakopened a debate on its important role in addressing global security and development challenges, convened by Mozambique, Council President in May.
Call Africa”an important voice for the global goodHe cited examples of how the continent demonstrates “unity and solidarity in a fractured world,” including focusing on ending poverty, supporting refugees, achieving development sustainable development and promote reform of the decades-old global financial system.
Ceasefire for Sudan
Mr. Guterres said that while efforts such as these require peace in Africa and beyond, “Too many Africans are caught in the hell of conflicts or living with the unrelenting dangers of terrorism and violent extremism in their community.”
Referring to the war and the “deepening humanitarian nightmare” in Sudan, he warned that increased hostilities in El Fasher were “opening an alarming new chapter” in the conflict, which is now has entered its second year.
“We need a coordinated global push to achieve a ceasefirefollowed by a comprehensive peace process to end the bloodshed,” he said.
Secretary-General António Guterres spoke at the Security Council meeting on maintaining international peace and security of African countries.
Silence of gunfire
Mr. Guterres outlined three steps to strengthen Africa’s peace leadership, both on the continent and on the global stage.
“First – we need peace in Africa itself,” he said, emphasizing the United Nations’ partnership with the African Union (AU) and support for the ‘Improvement’ initiative. silence the guns’ of this organization.
He also praised the Security Councilacceptance of resolution 2719 last year, allowing AU-led peace support operations that receive a Council mandate to access UN-assessed contributions.
The two organizations “will continue to work together to defuse conflicts before they escalate, manage them effectively when they occur, and build sustainable peace when they are resolved,” he said.
Reform outdated institutions
Second, African participation and leadership must be embedded in the “global architecture of peace and security”.
He emphasized the need to reform the United Nations Security Council and other global organizations established after World War II, which are now outdated.
Structural inequality has left African countries exposed to the consequences of conflict, an unjust global financial system and the climate crisis.
Praise Kenya
However, at the same time, they are also stepping up and contributing to global peace efforts, he added.
He commended Kenya for leading the upcoming Multilateral Security Assistance Mission that will be deployed to Haiti to strengthen national efforts to quell widespread gang violence. He also praised other African countries that have offered to send troops.
The Secretary-General emphasized that Africa deserves a voice in the global peace and security architecture.
A voice among equals
“But Strengthening Africa’s voice can only happen if African countries can participate in global governance structures as equals.he say. “This must include redressing the lack of permanent African representation in this Council.”
The Secretary General pointed out Future Summit at United Nations Headquarters in September as an opportunity to advance this and other issues, such as reform of the global financial system.
Bankole Adeoye (on screen), AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, summarizes the Security Council meeting on the maintenance of international peace and security of states Africa.
New Security Council
AU Commissioner for Political, Peace and Security Affairs, Bankole Adeoye, emphasized that restructuring the global peace and security architecture is imperative.
“The The emerging global order must promote renewed and interconnected multilateralism for the benefit of global stability. This is an African right, not just a need,” he said via video conference.
Furthermore, the new United Nations Security Council “must be expanded, must be inclusive, must be pro-African, must be more democratic, must be responsive, must be legal, must be fair and must be accountable.”
Mr. Adeoye also highlighted the issue of financing for peace operations, calling for “100% unhindered, unconditional access to the United Nations assessed contributions to peace operations and security”.
Ambassador Sérgio França Danese of Brazil, Chairman of the Peacebuilding Commission, briefed the Security Council meeting on maintaining international peace and security of African countries.
Building sustainable peace
The Chairman of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), Ambassador Sérgio França Danese of Brazil, maintained his commitment to support African countries seeking assistance.
He spoke about PBC’s work across several pillars, including institution building, electoral processes, rule of law, transitional justice, security sector reform and the women and peace agenda and security.
“These are just starting points for the normalization of countries in transition and post-conflict situations,” he said.
“Investing in sustainable development is very important aims to ensure long-term social cohesion and stability and must be implemented in parallel with other initiatives.”
