The 38th African heads of states summit is opened today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this morning in the presence of many African leaders and the UN Secretary General António Guterres, who urges the leaders to end conflicts and human sufferings in the continent.
“…First, we must push for peace, security and alleviating appalling levels of human suffering. Sudan is being torn apart before our eyes — and is now home to the world’s largest displacement crisis and famine. As we near the holy month of Ramadan, it is time for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The international community must come together to stop the flow of weapons and the bankrolling of bloodshed. The strong partnership between the African Union and the United Nations can provide an anchor for a broad multilateral coalition to end the war in Sudan,” said António Guterres in his opening remark.
From Ethiopia to Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa remained a continent filled with internal conflicts and wars over power and resources that have been resulting in the death of tens of thousands and displacement of millions of civilians.
“In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Congolese people have been suffering – yet again – from a brutal cycle of violence. And the fighting that is raging in South Kivu – as a result of the continuation of the M23 offensive — threatens to push the entire region over the precipice. Regional escalation must be avoided at all costs. There is no military solution,” António Guterres said.
“The deadlock must end – the dialogue must begin. And the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC must be respected. The conclusions of the recent joint EAC-SADC Summit offer a way forward – namely, a path towards a ceasefire, and new momentum for regional efforts based on the Luanda and Nairobi processes. Now is the time for swift implementation,” he said.
“…The partnership between the United Nations and the African Union has never been stronger. Together, we see an Africa brimming with hope and possibility. You have a booming, enterprising population, including the largest number of young people in the world. You have some of the world’s best renewable resources. The African Continental Free Trade Area is poised to turbocharge the region’s economy. Ahead of the leaders meeting, experts and ministers meeting have been taking place since Monday this week,” said Antonio Guterez.
In his welcoming speech, the host country’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also said: “in a world marked by rapid change and multiple challenges, we find ourselves at a crossroads of uncertainty and opportunity. This moment calls upon us to strengthen our collective resolve, embrace resilience, and foster unity across Africa.”
“…To achieve lasting justice, peace, and prosperity, we must rise above the geopolitical tensions and the historical divisions imposed upon us by colonial borders. By fostering solidarity among all of our nations and embracing a shared destiny, we can pool our resources and talents to unlock our continent’s full potential,” Abiy said.