'Security issues in Africa are often caused by structural weakness': AU high rep. for Silencing the Guns

CAIRO – 2 March 2021: African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns Ramtane Lamamra stressed Tuesday in Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development that security issues in Africa are often caused by “structural weakness.”

That was in a session titled "Bridging the Gap between Aspirations and the Reality of the Ground: Operationalizing the Structural Prevention Agenda" was held.

"Structural prevention is about addressing root causes of conflict and enhancing negotiation capacities," Lamamra explained. That’s in addition to improving social-economic circumstances, the AU official noted.
 

"Yet, creating equilibrium between national unity and diversity is pivotal," Lamamra stressed. "Another equilibrium that must be accomplished is one between the core and the periphery when it comes to many realms, including distribution of resources," Lamamra said.
 

"There must be harmony among political, economic, social and humanitarian work actors," Lamamra added.
 

With regard to the COVID-19 crisis, "the pandemic mandates the international community to become innovative in terms of resources. We need to adjust and adapt," Lamamra said.
 

"The UNSC and AU Peace and Security Council shall work closely to set benchmarks that have to be met in a decade," Lamamra showcased asserting that, "ational reconciliation must be sought whenever it is possible to offer a better future."
 

Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo stated that forced displacement skyrocketed, and hence, the need for humanitarian aid increased. "Women have been disproportionately affected," DiCarlo noted.
 

“Our department is partnering up with the UNDP and UNICEF to address root causes of conflict and mitigating its impact,” DiCarlo added. Further, "We’re working to address farmers’ conflicts that may arise from climate change," DiCarlo stated.
 

The UN mission in Libya has facilitated dialogue with women groups through a digital platform, DiCarlo underscored saying that digital technology is necessary for women inclusion.
 

CEO of African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Eddy Maloka says that governance is an integral part of any initiative’s success.
 

Board Chairman of National Peace Council of the Republic of Ghana Ernest Adu-Gyamfi highlighted that African countries are dealing with multiple layers of change and disruptions caused by new technology, conflict, and political volatility.  
 

"Political inclusion is necessary for governance to work," Adu-Gyamfi pointed out. He also warned of "corruption infirtlation into politics embodied in using corrupted money to get in power" as that incurs undertaking practices that do not serve public interest.
 

"We launched this year a framework on conflict, violence and fragility, which can be beneficial to precise African states such as those of the Great Lakes," World Bank Group Director for Regional Integration for Africa, the Middle East, and Northern Africa Deborah Wetzel.
 

"Conflicts in Africa tend to be regional and cross border in nature. There are even spill-overs. For instance, Boko Haram originated in Nigeria, then extended to Chad, Niger, and Northern Cameroon," Wetzel clarified. She added that it is hard to predict the movement of conflicts.
 

"We’re working closely with Guinea countries on bolstering border control," Wetzel elaborated adding, "Our agenda also consists of promoting education, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment in order to enhance socioeconomic conditions and reduce unemployment."
 

"The inclusionary agenda and the governance agenda are intertwined," Wetzel underscored.