AU Peace, Security Council: Member States Examine Challenges

African Union Peace and Security Council members, meeting in a virtual conference on December 14, 2021 have analysed the security situation on the continent, regretting its impact on development. Deliberations at the 1055th meeting of the Council were moderated by the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, who is President of the Council for the month of December. Cameroon’s Minister of External Relations, Mbella Mbella led the Cameroonian delegation at the video conference which held under the theme, “Interdependence between peace, security and development in Africa.”

In Minister Mbella Mbella’s declaration, the theme chosen for the meeting is very pertinent given that African States are confronted with security challenges despite encouraging efforts in preserving peace and stability. Conflicts and tension, the Minister lamented, compromises the social and economic development of member States as well as the integration programme. “Cameroon by consequence appreciates the choice of the theme and salutes the contributions made by those invited to give more light on this problem,” he noted, adding that the meeting is taking place when different African States are stepping up mechanisms to achieve development objectives contained in the Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Minister Mbella Mbella added that Cameroon on its part is faced with security constraints with numerous consequences in terms of the negative impact on development efforts. “Faced with such a situation, the government adopted as an option, ...