Addis Ababa – African ministers of Defence, Protection and Security on Friday stressed the need for the Member States of the continental organisation to coordinate and combine efforts to prevent and combat the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism.
The request came at end of the Extraordinary Summit on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government.
The participants urged the Member States to support the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM) to provide financial and material resources.
They concluded that it was necessary to review the African Standby Force (FAEA) concept and the Memorandum of Understanding between the AU and the Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution.
Also they spoke of the method to set up the Special Unit against Terrorism to contribute to the completion of the FAEA Work Plan for 2021-2025.
Participants expressed their solidarity with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in its efforts to address the issue of terrorism and violent extremism on its territory.
The participants reiterated the call to Member States regarding ratification of the AU Convention on Border Cooperation (2014 Niamey Convention).
They expressed expectation with the outcome of the summit, to be held on the 28th of this month, in Malabo, on the initiative of the Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço.
Angola was represented at the meeting by a delegation headed by the Minister of Defence and Veterans of the Homeland, General João Ernesto dos Santos “Liberdade”.
Also joined the Angolan delegation the Secretary of State for the Interior José Bamóquina Zau, the Chief of the Military Intelligence and Security Services (SISM) General João Pereira Massano, the General Director of the External Intelligence Services General José Higino de Sousa “Zé Grande”, and the Second Commander of the National Police Chief Commissioner António Pedro Joaquim “Kandela”.
Source: Angola Press News Agency