President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the African
Union and the regional economic blocs within Africa to coordinate their
efforts in order fight the menace of terrorism, violent extremism,
armed conflicts and other crises threatening the peace and security of
the continent.
The President noted that attention should be focused on
how the Peace and Security Council and the regional economic
communities can enhance effectiveness using their comparative
advantages and various capacities in the areas of early warning and
early action, conflict prevention , peace- keeping, post- conflict
peace building, reconstruction, development, democratic practice and
good governance, as well as combating terrorism and violent extremism.
The President made the call while declaring open a
three-day retreat of the Peace and Security Council of the African
Union, which commenced on Monday in Abuja with the theme “Enhancement of
Cooperation Between the Peace and Security Council of the African Union
and the Regional Economic Communities/ Regional Mechanisms for Conflict
Prevention, Management and Resolution in the Promotion of Peace,
Security and Stability in Africa.”
The
President who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the
theme was apt because it provided Africa with an effective mechanism
for management of peace and security.
He said it was embarrassing for the continent to open vistas for fresh conflicts even as older ones were yet to be addressed.
Buhari said, “Terrorism and violent extremism presents
fresh problems to large number of internally displaced persons and
refugees going across the borders of neighbouring countries.
“The sheer variety and complexity of these challenges
obliged the Peace and Security Council and the regional economic
communities to more effectively coordinate and harmonise their efforts
in complementary manner in order to address the problems more
effectively.”
He praised the Security Council for providing Africa with
an effective mechanism for the management of peace and security, saying
the PSC has been a novel African initiative in many respects in its 11
years of existence.
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