Uganda has called for collaboration among African Union member states to deal with a number of challenges affecting the continent.
The call was made by Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the African Union, H.E Amb. Rebecca Amuge Otengo who’s currently chairing the African Union Peace and Security Council for the month of April on behalf of Gen. Yoweri Museveni.
Otengo made the remarks while addressing members of the AU Peace and Security Council at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa.
“We all need to work together as a collective to find viable solutions to the issues that affect us for the good of the continent. As a Council, we’re in advanced stages of ensuring that we find solutions to common challenges but it has never been a bed of roses. As a continent, we think we should approach this as a collective” she said.
Otengo observed the need for extra efforts in the area of preventive diplomacy including dealing with underlying root causes and drivers associated with the youth violence.
She noted that as the new members join the PSC, they come at a time when the African continent is faced with several challenges. Otengo outlined some of them as intra-interstate conflicts situations, military coups, terrorism and violent extremism, climate change, transnational organized crime and cyber security among others.
She also reminded members of another challenge of funding to the AU peace support operations.
“We have no time to be distracted. We must work together so that we move for the common good of the continent. I wish to re-echo our resolve to reflect more on how to make sure that we include and make Preventive Diplomacy stronger” she said.
Otengo said Preventive Diplomacy is vital especially in dealing with the underlying root causes and drivers associated with youth joining violence.
“We can never forget to focus on children affected by conflict in this continent. I therefore, invite you to reflect on this and other issues that I may not have highlighted but come from time to time. We work for Africa and that’s our resolve” she said as she welcomed new members to the PSC.
Otengo also congratulated the newly elected members emphasizing that their election to PSC is a demonstration of the confidence in them not only by their countries but also Africa as a whole.
H.E Amb. Rebecca Otengo addressing the meeting in Addis Ababa (lead pic) also upload the clip on WhatsApp
