Luanda: Angolan Head of State and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Joo Louren§o, stressed on Friday the need for a concerted effort to build a stable and peaceful Africa where peace and reconciliation are priorities to be permanently taken into account.
According to Angola Press News Agency, speaking on the occasion of the commemoration of the Day of Peace and Reconciliation in Africa, Joo Louren§o noted that the date is not just a celebration, but an invitation to reflect on the challenges of peace and security that unfortunately persist on the continent.
The Angolan Statesman emphasized that this exercise of deep introspection brings to mind some of the imminent forerunners of freedom and independence in Africa, who knew how to synthesize the meaning of the African man, such as Nelson Mandela (South Africa) and Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana). These notable figures left a lesson that must always be remembered, according to which peace and reconciliation are 'a moral duty and a strategic necessity that we will not be able to achieve as long as we face challenges on our continent that range from coups d'©tat to terrorism and violent extremism'.
He stated that armed conflicts and community tensions also call into question and seriously condition the purposes of building progress, development, and the well-being of all Africans. Faced with these trials, the Angolan and acting President of the AU highlighted the need for Africans to never give up on their purposes and to remain firm and mobilized to transform vulnerabilities into strength, divisions into unity, and threats into opportunities.
'United and cohesive, let us work to guarantee the operability and effectiveness of the aforementioned mechanisms, whenever it becomes necessary to make them work to ensure stability, peace, and security, factors that together contribute to the relaunch of African economies and the development of our continent,' he expressed.
In President Joo Louren§o's view, peace and reconciliation in Africa will be more lasting achievements whenever awareness of the relevance of understanding between all is reinforced in societies. He noted that the active participation of women and young people is crucial due to their great sensitivity to the consequences of conflicts, as they are generally the main victims.
Consequently, he considered it essential to listen to the voices of women and young people, who have a lot to convey to politicians, governments, and African societies, in general, about their vision regarding conflicts and their role in finding solutions to these problems. For this purpose, the continent has the Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence in Africa.
According to the Angolan Statesman, the Luanda Biennial will take place in its fourth edition next October, during which it is expected to have the active participation of the aforementioned segments of the population. This event is jointly organized by the Angolan Government, the African Union, and UNESCO, providing a space where young people can express their aspirations and women can share their experiences of mediation and reconstruction.
The Day of Peace and Reconciliation in Africa is celebrated annually on January 31st. Established by the African Union (AU) in May 2022, the date aims to promote a culture of peace, stability, and development, focusing on conflict resolution and social cohesion.
