Seychelles supports AU’s commitments to peace and security in Africa

Seychelles supports AU’s commitments to peace and security in Africa

05-July-2018
Seychelles has reiterated its support for the commitments undertaken by the African Union towards peace and security in Africa.

This came on the last day of the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) which was being held in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Vice-President Vincent Meriton was representing President Danny Faure at the Summit.

Speaking during the close of the Summit on Monday, Vice-President Meriton said:

“Remember, insecurity, instability anywhere on the continent is a threat to prosperity everywhere in Africa. We cannot ignore the concerns we have over the remaining challenges in security and peace across the continent. As called for in Agenda 2063, all wars and violent conflicts in Africa must stop. We should resort to peaceful dialogue to resolve our differences.”

The vice-president also highlighted the leadership role played by Seychelles in 2016 and 2017 on the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia which was a first for the region.

In an interactive luncheon hosted by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, on ‘financing of AU-led peace support operations authorised by the UN Security Council, Vice-President Meriton underscored the collaboration between France and Africa in upholding peace and security across the continent.

“The scope of peace and security should not be restricted to the continent only but should also encompass the maritime domain. Maritime crimes such as drugs smuggling, human trafficking and the lingering scourge of piracy continue to undermine development of both coastal and landlocked countries,” said Vice-President Meriton.

Emphasis was also placed on the Seychelles-led initiatives and programmes as well as structures within the Indian Ocean Commission to assist in combatting these scourges. To note, the IOC has shown its worth by assisting to develop maritime surveillance and response structures like the EU-funded Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre in Madagascar and the Regional Centre for Operational Coordination in Seychelles under the MASE programme. On the margins of the Assembly the vice-president had bilateral meetings with leaders from South Africa, Egypt, Rwanda, Mauritius and Morocco.

The Seychelles delegation consisted of secretary of state in the department of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Barry Faure; Ambassador David Pierre, permanent representative for Seychelles in Addis Ababa; Cillia Mangroo, principal secretary for trade and Johnette Stephen, principal counselor in the embassy of Seychelles in Addis Ababa.
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