President Bola Tinubu has called for increased collaboration between the African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) to end the proliferation of arms and light weapons in Africa.
He expressed concern over the preponderance of weapons in several African countries and their contribution to conflict, insurgency, violence and loss of lives in the region.
Speaking during a dialogue themed: ‘The Africa we want and the UN we need’, Tinubu, represented by Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, underscored democratisation of the UN system to address evolving myriad of challenges in global governance.
He said: “As a government, we are seriously concerned about the rising threat of widespread terrorism across international borders, insurgency and the disruptive intervention of the military in governance in Africa, particularly in West Africa.
“As part of our collective response to these challenges, which have grave global implications, may I urge the participants to find innovative and cost-effective strategies by which the African Union would collaborate with the United Nations and the international community to stem the tide of proliferation of arms and light weapons into Africa, end terrorism and resurgent insurgency, as well as check the retrogressive return of the military in governance in Africa.”
Also, the Chief of Staff to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and founder/chairman of Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, stated: “As Africans, we must be our champions and very vocal advocates.
“All Africans must desire for one another a continent that is peaceful, secure, united and prosperous. We must promote constitutionalism and respect for human rights and human dignity.”
Also, chairperson of AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, represented by Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Prof Bankole Adeoye, said part of the Agenda 2063 was to revolutionise the continent.
