Africa-Press – Angola. Angola’s permanent representative to the United Nations, in New York (USA), ambassador Francisco José da Cruz, highlighted on Monday (16), the country’s role in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts in Africa, with based on its experience in building peace and national reconciliation.
He said that the country’s diplomatic initiatives translate into the search for inclusion and political stability in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR), within the scope of its Presidency of the International Conference for the Great Lakes (CIRGL).
According to a note, the diplomat defended this position at the plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly, which debated the Causes of conflicts and the promotion of lasting peace and sustainable development in Africa.
On the occasion, he noted that the continent continues to face major peace and security challenges, such as the spread of terrorism and violent extremism, the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government (UCG) and unstable political transitions.
He also pointed out corruption, nepotism, inefficiency of States in providing basic services and the growing internationalization of conflicts, due to the deepening of geopolitical rivalry that undermines the leadership role of the African Union (AU) in the search for solutions.
He advanced that global, regional, sub-regional and national systems that deal with conflicts have focused on preventing inter-state wars and, increasingly, intra-state conflicts.
“However, the changing nature of conflicts and crises demands a more comprehensive and integrated approach to responding to humanitarian crises and human rights violations, to identify lasting political solutions,” he highlighted.
During his intervention, Ambassador Francisco José da Cruz informed that the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), gathered at the 16th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on 28 May 2022, they established January 31st of each year as “African Day of Peace and Reconciliation”, having designated President João Lourenço as Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa”.
He recalled that, on the occasion of the inaugural celebration of the date on January 31, 2023, the Angolan Head of State defended two main pillars for peace and stability on the continent.
Regarding the first pillar, he declared that trust and unity in the diversity of the peoples of Africa are the way forward for the continent to achieve peace and reconciliation, as well as manage and resolve conflicts.
Regarding the second, he pointed out that the achievement of peace in Africa is, in fact, a shared responsibility that requires all African citizens, young and old, men and women, to contribute to the maintenance of social cohesion and unity and to appreciate, value and encourage peace in their individual and collective capacities and environments.
Ambassador Francisco José da Cruz highlighted that Angola is a peacemaking, peace-building and peace-loving country, with the principles of peaceful dispute resolution and the promotion of international peace and security at the center of its Foreign Policy.
In this context, he highlighted that the country is committed to strengthening a culture of peace and national reconciliation through the holding of the Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace in Africa – Luanda Biennial, in partnership with the African Union (AU) and the UNESCO, with the aim of promoting democratic principles and practices and consolidating an environment of political tolerance and inclusion on the continent.
The third edition of the Luanda Biennial will take place from the 22nd to the 24th of November this year, under the motto “Education, Culture of Peace and African Citizenship as Tools for the Development of the Continent”.
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