Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Orientation and Dialogue with the new Leadership of the 4th ECOSOCC (Economic, Social and Cultural Council) of the African Union, kickstarted, this morning, in the presence of the Attorney General, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Maneesh Gobin, at the Voilà Hotel, Bagatelle, Moka.
The Dialogue addresses the role of the civil society in Africa in peace promotion efforts through the implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) Tools and Mechanisms for Engagement with the Peace and Security Council.
The Head of Secretariat of ECOSOCC, Mr William Carew; the Head of Governance, Peace and Security, COMESA, Ms Elizabeth Mutunga; the Presiding Officer of ECOSOCC, Mr Khalid Boudali; and the Parliamentary Private Secretary, Mr Soobeersingh Dhunoo; were also present on the occasion.
In his address, the Foreign Affairs Minister underpinned the attachment of Mauritius to democracy, peace and security, which he said, is deep-rooted and unwavering and finds its way in our strong belief that these are sine qua non conditions to achieve sustainable development in Africa as elsewhere.
He remarked that the meeting is taking place at a time when the African continent is experiencing a resurgence in political tensions, violent extremism, terrorism, border disputes, and unconstitutional changes of Government through military coups.
These challenges are not only causing human sufferings that have resulted in unprecedented humanitarian needs but are also reversing the political and socio-economic gains achieved over the last decades, he added.
Furthermore, the Minister dwelt on the concept of security which, he observed, is no longer state-centric but rather people-centered and multi-dimensional whilst underlining the urgency of addressing threats that can erode human security.
According to Minister Gobin, there is an imperative for greater collaboration among all stakeholders to move from a reactive response to security challenges, to proactively preventing them by addressing the root causes and reinforcing a culture of peace, tolerance and co-existence.
Besides, the crucial role played by the Civil Society Organisations in advancing peace, security and stability in Africa along with their valuable insights and connections with local communities as important assets that help them promote dialogue between conflicting parties, raise awareness about the root causes of conflict, help identify security threats and provide humanitarian assistance to conflict affected areas, were underscored by Minister Gobin.
He emphasised that their presence creates an environment conducive to dialogue, understanding and collaboration and called on the need to empower Civil Society Organisations so that they are able to play their role of bridges between communities and government effectively.
In this context, the signing of the Fourth EU Support Programme for the implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture, the EU-APSA IV in 2020, marked an important milestone as being instrumental in strengthening the capacity and coordination of APSA components to adapt to emerging security challenges in Africa, added the Foreign Affairs Minister.
Speaking about the role of the ECOSOCC, the Minister stated that as the African Union Civil Society policy Organ, it contributes significantly to a meaningful engagement of Civil Society Organisations in promoting sustainable peace and security in Africa.
As regards the meeting, Mr Maneesh Gobin expressed conviction that it will enable the new leadership of the 4th ECOSOCC Permanent General Assembly to get an insight into the key role of the African Peace and Security Architecture, specifically the EU APSA IV, as well as APSA’s key components, including the Peace and Security Council, the Panel of the Wise, the Continental Early Warning System and the African Standby Force in promoting conflict prevention, management and resolution in Africa.
It will also allow participants to explore the newly developed tools and mechanisms available for Civil Society Organisations to engage with the Peace and Security Council and to devise a clear roadmap for future collaboration between Civil Society Organisations, ECOSOCC, Regional Economic Communities, and the Peace and Security Council which would contribute towards the creation of a united front to achieve the objectives of Agenda 2063 and in particular, the “Silencing the Guns” flagship project, he said.
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