African envoys say collaboration key in addressing continent's security challenges

By Timothy Olanrewaju

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Collaboration among African nations is essential to tackle the continent's increasing security challenges, envoys from the African Union and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said Wednesday.

During an inaugural joint consultation between the AU Peace and Security Council and the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council at the ambassadorial level in the Nigerian capital Abuja, they highlighted the impact of insecurity and conflicts on the stability and growth of the continent.

"We need to emphasize the critical role and the absolute necessity of collaboration and cooperation in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts in our region," said Ambassador Jainaba Jagne, the permanent representative of Gambia to the AU and chairperson of the AU Peace and Security Council.

Jagne said the continent is faced with a surge of terrorism, violent extremism and the "resurgence of unconstitutional changes in governments" in some countries, especially in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

She said the overthrow of constitutional governments through military coups in such countries has serious negative consequences for the peace, security and stability of the region.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS and Chair of the ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council, Ambassador Musa Nuhu, in his remarks said that Africa has long struggled with security problems. He expressed concern over the complexity of the emerging insecurity in the region.

Nuhu noted that the security landscape of the continent is dynamic, calling for a "unified response that goes beyond national boundaries."

The consultation meeting is the second forum on security held this week in Nigeria. It came a day after a two-day African high-level counter-terrorism summit in Abuja attended by some African presidents, the UN’s deputy secretary general and other officials.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed had on Monday on the sidelines of the counter-terrorism summit asked African leaders to back their talks on security responses with funds, "not just rhetoric."