DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .
An article from Panapress
The 4th Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa ended on Tuesday afternoon in Diamniadio, Senegal, after two days of work marked by a high-level panel led by Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and Ibrahima Boubacar Keita of Mali.
The three heads of state particularly emphasized the need for Africa to rely first on itself to ensure its security before appealing to the international community.
(From l) Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame, Senegal’s president Macky Sall, Mali’s president Ibrahima Boubacar Keita and AU Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat at the opening of the Peace and Security forum in Dakar. By SEYLLOU (AFP)
“We must commit ourselves to solving our problems before resorting to foreign aid. I do not believe that Africa’s defense will come from outside. I do not believe it. Africa must first take charge of its security and our partners will come in support,” said President Sall.
The Prime Minister of Chad, Albert Pahimi Padacké, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AU), Moussa Faki Mahamat, the French Minister of Armed Forces, Ms. Florence Parly, and the Deputy Minister at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Masahisa Sato, also took part in this panel.
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Islamic extremism, how should it be opposed?
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The Prime Minister of Chad, Albert Pahimi Padacké, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AU), Moussa Faki Mahamat, the French Minister of Armed Forces, Ms. Florence Parly, and the Deputy Minister at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Masahisa Sato, also took part in this panel.
The sentiment of the three heads of state is shared by Padacké who highlighted the efforts made by his country to help its neighbors, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon, to fight against Bokko Haram, which is rampant in the Lake Chad Basin.
“We have to rely on ourselves first, because the security of the continent and Africans are at stake. It is our responsibility to protect our countries and our people. We can always appeal to the international community, but we must not depend on it,” he said.
“Chad does not host any terrorist organization, but it was the first to intervene in Mali and devotes significant resources to the fight against terrorism that is raging among its neighbors,” he said, wondering how long his country can hold out if its efforts are not supported?
However, they all recognize the need for subregional and global cooperation to fight terrorism, particularly in Africa.
Discussions focused on several themes including terrorism and violent extremism, Africa and emerging security challenges, migration and security challenges, the fight against terrorist financing, maritime security and safety in Africa, as well as cybersecurity, information governance and the digital space.
This “Mature Forum” was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by Senegalese from abroad with the support of the French Ministry of Defense and many other partners.
Placed this year under the theme “Security Challenges in Africa: for integrated solutions”, the meeting brought together “more than 400 participants” including regional and international actors, political and military authorities, experts, academics, diplomats, representatives of international organizations and civil society.
The organization of the forum was decided in December 2013 in Paris during a France-Africa summit on the fight against terrorism.