Africa-Press – Angola. The holding, in Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), from 25 to 28 May 2022, of the Extraordinary Summits on Humanitarian Issues and the Donor Conference, as well as the one on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa was considered “victorious” for Angolan diplomacy with the African Union (AU).
In the balance of the two activities, made by the Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António, the “result of the work done by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, on behalf of the continent” was highlighted, which culminated in the appointment of the Angolan Head of State as “champion for peace and reconciliation in Africa”, on the last day of the summit, dedicated to terrorism and unconstitutional changes in the cradle continent of Humanity.
“It is a victory for the number one diplomat, first, who is the President of the Republic, and for his collaborators, for the Angolan people. causes”, summarized the minister Téte António to journalists, on Saturday, in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, before heading to Luanda.
In relation to terrorism and unconstitutional changes, the minister said that the coups d’état were analyzed mechanisms that already exist within the organization and the review of others, such as forced displacement of populations, migration itself and food security, emergencies of the health and resources made available to the African Union.
According to the head of Angolan diplomacy, the recognition of the commitment of the President of the Republic to the solution of differences on the continent is in line with the Declaration of 31 January of each year, as it is the Day of Peace and Reconciliation for Africa, as it is the date on which that the AU Agenda 2063 was adopted.
For the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Téte António, this is the result of the work that João Lourenço has carried out as Head of State and as President of sub-regional bodies such as the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL), but also its contributions in the African Union itself, including the recently concluded Summit, proposed by the Angolan statesman as early as 2020.
“Positioned here, as we have seen, it was also President João Lourenço who presided over the two extraordinary summits, one dedicated to Terrorism and the other on Humanitarian Issues”, he highlighted.
Recommendations For Solid Response And Collective Security
The African Union Heads of State and Government, gathered at the 16th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, last Saturday, 28, reaffirmed their commitment to promoting respect for constitutionalism and the principles of separation of powers and independence of the judiciary, as well as the promotion of political pluralism with the full participation of citizens, in accordance with the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and the Union Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections.
They reiterated the decisions of the Peace and Security Council (on the issue of terrorism and violent extremism, as well as the unconstitutional changes of Government in Africa) and took note of the reports of the Chairperson of the Commission on Terrorism, Violent Extremism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa).
According to the final declaration of the summits, the statesmen, whose work was guided by President João Lourenço, reinforced their condemnation of all manifestations of terrorism and violent extremism on the continent, preserving the indivisibility of States, within the spirit of the security solution african.
They also committed themselves to promoting the implementation of all relevant AU instruments and decisions, in particular the 1999 Convention on Prevention and the OAU/AU 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration, as well as the full operation of the African Force, without further delay, and improve coordination on its use and accelerate the finalization of the Memorandum of Understanding between the AU and security bodies. The African Union also reaffirmed the immediate, unconditional and total withdrawal of foreign terrorist fighters and mercenaries from the continent, as well as calling on the Commission to accelerate the completion of the review of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Convention on Mercenaries.
Among other measures taken at the summits, the statesmen also spoke out against foreign interference in Africa’s internal affairs and requested that external actors put an end to support for terrorist groups, having reaffirmed adequate and sustainable funding for efforts in the fight against this evil and the immediate placement of the AU Special Fund for the Prevention and Fight against Terrorism and Violent Extremism, as per the July 2016 Assembly decision on the Establishment of this support mechanism.
They highlighted the solidarity of the United Nations, in particular the Security Council, to use contributions to Peace Support Operations, mandated by the African Union, to strengthen efforts to fight terrorism and improve stabilization in Africa. The strengthening of national, regional and continental mechanisms, as well as the interconnection between security bodies, with the aim of facilitating the consolidation of good governance, especially constitutionalism and the rule of law, through a multilevel commitment.
After designating President João Lourenço as champion of the African Union for peace and reconciliation, the statesmen were fully aware of the great importance of creating resilient societies, social cohesion, national unity and regional cooperation, as a basis for lasting peace and in the spirit of the Decade of Reconciliation in Africa “Madiba Nelson Mandela”. The final document establishes 31 January as “Africa Day for Peace and Reconciliation”, with a view to fostering peace building and social cohesion at national, regional and continental levels.
As Heads of State and Government of the AU, João Lourenço and his counterparts pledged, once again, to base themselves on the shared vision of Pan-Africanism and on the legacy of African unity and solidarity, defending constitutionalism, democracy and good governance, and also to adopt the multidimensional approach to peace, security and sustainable development in line with the aspirations of Agenda 2063, on “Africa we want”.
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