Osinbajo tasks African leaders on tackling root causes of violence in the continent

African leaders have been asked to affirm their readiness to a comprehensive approach in addressing the root causes of violence in countries on the continent.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, made this statement on Monday at the ongoing African Union summit in Addis Ababa where he led the discussion on peace and security as the Chairman of the AU’s Peace & Security Council, a continental equivalent of the U.N’s Security Council.
According to Prof. Osinbajo, “We need to rekindle our political will and determination not to bequeath to the next generation of Africans the burden of wars, poverty and misery. It is therefore necessary for the Assembly to reaffirm the overriding importance of holistically addressing the root causes of violent conflicts in our countries.”
Below is the full text of his lead presentation at the AU summit attended by several heads of states and governments from the continent.
Introductory statement by H.E. Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Acting President of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union for the month of July 2017, to the Report of the Peace and Security Council on its activities and the State of Peace and Security in Africa at the Occasion of the 29th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads Of State and Government, 3-4 July 2017, Addis Ababa.
Chairperson of the African Union H.E. President Alpha Conde
Excellencies, Heads of State and Government
Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat
Heads of Delegations
Ladies and Gentlemen
Permit me to convey the warm greetings of the government and people of Nigeria, particularly the appreciation of His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari who had requested me to express his profound gratitude for the messages of goodwill from Your Excellencies.
I would also like to thank the government of Ethiopia for the usual warm hospitality and the excellent facilities that have been put at our disposal for this Assembly Session.
Specially, I wish to thank the Chairperson of our Union for giving me the opportunity and privilege to briefly address this august Assembly on the Report of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) and its activities and the State of Peace and Security in Africa since our last Summit. This is in my country’s capacity as Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union for the month of July 2017, after which the Commissioner of Peace and Security will make a presentation.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Peace and Security Council has continued to relentlessly discharge its mandate of promoting peace, security and stability in our continent. Our peace and security agenda must remain on the front burner of our deliberations. We have no choice peace, security and stability are fundamental to the realization of sustainable development and to assure our peoples of decent and happy lives.
As we move towards silencing the guns by 2020, our collective resolve must remain solid and steadfast to effectively tackle conflicts, terrorism, violent extremism and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.
Pursuant to our 50th Anniversary’s Solemn Declaration, and under Nigeria’s chairmanship of the Peace and Security Council in the month of July, we will prioritize the adoption of practical measures to address the current security challenges in South Sudan, Somalia, Guinea Bissau, the Sahel-Sahelo and Lake Chad Basin regions. Furthermore, Nigeria will strengthen the engagement with all AU Member States in confronting the menace of child soldiering and millions of out-of-school children in armed conflict areas. To this effect, I would like to urge your full support and cooperation in this endeavour.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen
As a first step, we must ensure the full implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), especially the operationalization of the African Standby Force (ASF) and the Peace Fund. In particular, the Government of Nigeria reiterates the need for the Peace and Security Council to work towards removing all distractions and impediments to the full attainment of operational capacity of the African Standby Force. To ensure the effectiveness of the African Union peace support operations, the Regional Economic Communities and relevant international bodies, especially the United Nations must remain strategic pillars of peace, security and development of the Continent as envisioned in Agenda 2063.
We must redouble our efforts and, and without equivocation avail the necessary resources, in order to successfully achieve the goals set out in Agenda 2063. We need to rekindle our political will and determination not to bequeath to the next generation of Africans the burden of wars, poverty and misery. It is therefore necessary for the Assembly to reaffirm the overriding importance of holistically addressing the root causes of violent conflicts in our countries.
As I conclude, on behalf of the Peace and Security Council, I would like to thank the Government of Zambia for ably steering the work of the Council in June. I also wish to thank all Member States of our Union, the Regional Economic Communities and the Regional Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution, as well as the United Nations, other international partners, civil society organizations and, indeed the AU Commission for all the support rendered to the Peace and Security Council during the reporting period. It is only through such collective efforts that the noble goal of silencing the guns in Africa can be achieved. It is essential that the international communities including the UN continue to reinforce their support for Africa peace and security agenda such as the complementarity between Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The tragic consequences of wars and conflicts in Africa are self-evident. The millions killed and maimed, the Millions displaced, children out of school , set us back decades economically and socially. Our resolve to end wars and conflicts in Africa is therefore our vote for a future of real growth and development for our continent.
Chairperson, may I, at this stage, humbly request you to give the floor to the Commissioner for Peace and Security to present to this Assembly, the Report of the Peace and Security Council on its Activities and the State of Peace and Security in Africa.
I thank you.