"In the last decade, instability in Africa has worsened as a result of the intensification of terrorist actions, violent extremism and unconstitutional changes of democratically elected governments, often resulting from the non-acceptance of the results from the polls by some competitors" , said João Lourenço, in his speech at the 36th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the AU.
"The threats of instability arising from these socio-economic trends should require pragmatic political initiatives within the framework of the continent's peace and security perspectives for 2023", considered João Lourenço.
Among the concrete measures, João Lourenço recalled the "full operationalization of the African Force in a State of Alert, after the 14th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government on the Silencing of Arms", in January this year.
This force "would have, among others, the mission of intervening in critical moments and situations that undermine the stability and security of countries, regions and the whole of our continent, within the framework of the architecture of peace and security in Africa", explained the head of state.
Angola is concerned about "the fact that Africa continues to experience a serious economic and social crisis, aggravated by the covid-19 pandemic and the effects of political conflicts, religious, ethnic and cultural intolerance and the weakening of State institutions".
On the other hand, "pragmatic and sustainable solutions" are needed, already decided by the AU, which "will surely help to prevent terrorism and discourage coups d'état that are becoming common, frequent and banal in Africa".
In addition to these measures, there is a need for a "reinforcement of the coordination work that has been developed between the African Union, the regional economic communities and the regional mechanisms, tending to the implementation and management of peace support operations", which An example is the recent deployment of the Regional Force of the East African Community to the Democratic Republic of Congo, or the Joint Alert Force in Southern Africa to "support Mozambique in the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado", said João Lourenço.
For these operations, "adequate and sustainable funding for peace and security activities will be necessary, so that the forces in peace support operations can develop their action without difficulties, so the full operationalization of the Union Peace Fund must be relevant Africa and the Crisis Reserve Mechanism".
These financial solutions, said João Lourenço, will make it possible to reduce "the external dependence of the African bloc in terms of security and peacekeeping, paving the way for the application of African solutions to conflicts on the continent".
The leader also defended "increasingly participatory, inclusive and genuine forms of governance in Africa, in order to reinforce trust in institutions and contribute to the promotion of an African culture of peace, and respect for the principles of human rights" .
