Category Archives: Africa

Pan-African initiatives for peace: Are they advancing?

A recent meeting of the Pan-African Parliament continued working on the concept of a Pan-African passport as well as initiatives to open the borders of the countries of Africa to trade and travel by all Africans. The rich tradition of Pan-Africanism provides an alternative model to that of empires and states. A Pan-African union could be based on a culture of peace rather than culture of war. It would be within the tradition of peace-building by Nelson Mandela. And it would fulfill the dream of that great African-American, W.E.B. Dubois, which he shared at the end of his life with Kwame Nkrumah and the people of Ghana, an Africa at peace with itself and the world.

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This question applies to the following CPNN articles:

Mali: Ségou: capital of peace and national reconciliation of the regions of central Mali

Pan-African Parliament session adopts recommendations and resolutions

Pan-African Parliament calls on African Union to support the creation of a UN Parliamentary Assembly

Togo: Literary contest appeals to African youth for a culture of peace

Togolese Republic to host “Second African Peace Conference”

The Gambia: African youth calls for intergenerational bridges

Africa: How to Achieve the Freedom Promised

Africa’s Contribution to the Global Movement for a Culture of Peace

Africa

Pan-African Parliament session adopts recommendations and resolutions

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Excerpts from the website of the Pan-African Parliament

The Pan African Parliament (PAP) on Thursday wound up its two-week fourth Ordinary Session of the Fourth Parliament by adopting a total of seven resolutions and five recommendations that are aimed at impacting PAP’s work as well as the wellbeing of the African people.


Video of Parliamentary Session

The PAP has been holding its ordinary session at the Parliament’s Headquarters in Midrand, South Africa since May, 8 and the sitting was kick-started with the special address by Malawi’s and Burkinabe Presidents, H.E Arthur Peter Mutharika and Roch March Kaboré, respectively.

In his closing remarks, PAP President, Honourable Roger Nkodo Dang, described the Ordinary Session as a success, not only because of the various crucial issues that the Parliament discussed but also the presence of the two African Heads of State that graced its official opening on May 8.

The PAP President also expressed gratitude to various dignitaries and experts who interacted with PAP Members and shared with them several experiences and technical knowledge to enable PAP execute its role effectively.

He said the recommendations and resolutions that the PAP Plenary had adopted should enable national parliaments to take an active role towards achieving Africa’s goal of integration and other initiatives to benefit the people of Africa.

The PAP President also expressed gratitude to various dignitaries and experts who interacted with PAP Members and shared with them several experiences and technical knowledge to enable PAP execute its role effectively.

Concept of the African Passport

The House also resolved to promote and support free movement of people in Africa and the African passport through, among other initiatives, raising awareness, popularizing and demystifying the concept of the African Passport and also allaying fears that African countries had concerning free movement of persons within the continent.

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Question(s) related to this article:

Pan-African initiatives for peace: Are they advancing?

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The PAP members therefore proposed formulation of a Protocol on free Movement of Persons that must be presented before African Union (AU) Heads of State for adoption at their January, 2018 Summit. The House also resolved to draft a Model Law on Free Movement of People in Africa and the African Passport to entrench people’s free movement in the legislation of all African countries.

Towards a borderless continent

Another resolution that the PAP Plenary adopted was the establishment of a Pan-African Parliamentary Forum on Trade, Customs and Migration that would advocate for the ratification and domestication of relevant trade agreements that would eventually advance establishment of One Border Posts across African countries and ultimately a borderless continent with safe migration, cross border trade and protected refugee rights. The forum would also promote regional integration and establishment of Continental Free Trade Area.

Other key resolutions that the PAP Plenary adopted were the resolution on the African transport sector aimed at ensuring that the continental Parliament takes the lead in its oversight role over implementation of AU infrastructure projects particularly those under NEPAD; a resolution on the development of a Model African Law on Police and Model Treaty for Mutual Legal Assistance for Police Cooperation in Africa; and a resolution on the establishment of the PAP Alliance on the Sustainable Development Goals.

The PAP Members also adopted resolutions on Holding of Autonomous Election Observation Missions; Conferment of Observer Status in the PAP to the Parliament of Palestine; and Declaration of Support to Palestinian Prisoners.

The PAP Plenary, in accordance with its Rules and Procedures, also adopted several recommendations pertaining to the parliament, the AU and its organs, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and AU Member States and their organs and institutions.

The continental Parliament recommended that the AU Policy Organs adopt the Draft Model Law on the Protection of Cultural Property and Heritage and urged AU member states to adopt it and apply it to their domestic legislations. PAP members also recommended that the AU, RECs and African countries adopt and ratify global, continental and regional instruments that were related to women and girls’ rights to access educational systems.

Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

Africa: UN deputy chief says ‘messages of women’ vital to sustainable peace, development

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article from the United Nations

Urgent action is needed now towards the meaningful participation of women in peace processes, as well ensuring their voices are heard in all aspects of society, the United Nations deputy chief told reporters in Abuja today [20 July] as part of a first-ever UN-African Union trip focused on women, peace and security.


Video: UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed (second from the left), alongside UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten, and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development of Nigeria, Aisha Alhassan, speaking to the press in Abuja.

Urgent action is needed now towards the meaningful participation of women in peace processes, as well ensuring their voices are heard in all aspects of society, the United Nations deputy chief told reporters in Abuja today [20 July] as part of a first-ever UN-African Union trip focused on women, peace and security.

“It is about action. It is about implementation,” Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told the press in the Nigerian capital, where she also spotlighted the importance advancing gender equality as a precondition for sustainable development for all.

During the joint AU-UN high-level trip, which will move on from Nigeria to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ms. Mohammed will be accompanied by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, and the Special Envoy of the AU on Women, Peace and Security, Bineta Diop.

“It is a new era,” Ms. Mohammed continued, “a new era where we have many tools at our disposal.”

“We know that from the economy to stability and peace, we are not able to achieve our goals if we are only investing in half of the population. “Human resource is a major asset of a nation and a continent. Women often account for half. But they lack the investment we need,” she added, urging that women’s voices be heard in all aspects of society.

Ms. Mohammed cited various challenges, which went beyond abject poverty to encompass high maternal mortality rates, extremism and education gaps.

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Question for this article

Does the UN advance equality for women?

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“What we really want to do is to hear and bring the messages of women – women in decision-making, women who bear the brunt and carry the burden of many of the tragedies that we see – to see how we can come out of this, how we can be a constructive partner in finding the solutions to sustainable development,” she stressed.

According to Ms. Mohammed: “It makes economic sense. It’s not charity. It is about rights […] it’s a huge part of our economic development.”

Over the past two days, the deputy UN chief met with the acting President and key ministers on these and other issues that affect development.

nvesting in Sustainable Development Goals can help prevent conflict
From the activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria’s north-east to the conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and farmers, she said conflicts drain the country’s economy of resources that could be better used for development.

“Without peace we cannot have development. Whatever investments that we are putting into development we are seeing them eroded by the lack of peace,” she underscored.

Ms. Mohammed also spoke about meeting with young refugee girls, who, living in camps, fled tragedies, including some of the freed Chibok girls. “We heard stories that young girls should not have to tell, and these have been a tragedy for all of us,” she lamented.

However, the deputy UN chief was inspired by their spirit as they “refuse to be victims and are survivors with a future that is bright.”

“We saw girls […] who talked about their dreams – no longer their nightmares,” she said, adding that while challenges remain as there are many girls still left behind, “it shows that there is hope.”

Ms. Mohammed underscored the importance of strengthening partnerships with Nigeria and the African Union for a scaled-up response to support women and girls who face these tragedies.

Turning to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), she emphasized that by investing in them, “we can look at the root causes […] we can prevent the conflict from happening.”

Also, as present conflicts are resolved, the SDGs provide an opportunity “to invest in the day after, to make sure that we are building back so that we don’t lose the dividend of peace.”

Africa, United Nations, WOMEN'S EQUALITY,

Ghana: WANEP builds capacity of front line Peace Actors

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article by Prosper K. Kuorsoh for the Ghana News Agency

Northern Ghana, needs a certain culture of peace in order to derive maximum gains from the numerous agriculture interventions being implemented in the area. Creating this enabling environment would require strengthening the peace-building mechanisms and structures which, would lead to the adoption of meaningful and acceptable procedures to control and manage land and other natural resources and their related grievances.

Mr. Albert Yelyang, National Network Coordinator for WANEP-Ghana said this when he addressed participants during the opening of a two-day training for front line peace actors in Wa.

He noted that addressing these gaps in agriculture would require improving governance in the sector which also would imply enabling a more peaceful environment for the successful implementation of agriculture/wealth creation projects in Northern Ghana

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Question for this article:

What is the relation between the environment and peace?

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For this reason, the West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP-Ghana) is building the capacities of local front line peace actors across the Northern, Upper East and the Upper West Regions for them to help create the enabling environment for a successful implementation of the Northern Ghana Governance Activity (NGGA) and its sister interventions as well as the government flagship agriculture projects

He explained that the NGGA was born out of the realisation that in order to increase income and wealth through agriculture in Northern Ghana, there was the need to address some of the challenges and gaps in the sector.

The training brought together traditional authorities and institutions, civic institutions, faith based groups, civil society, departmental heads, Regional and District Security Committees and the media.

It was on the theme: “Understanding the Operations of the Updated WANEP-Ghana’s Early Warning and Response System for Dialogue and Mediation, and Natural Resource and Conflict
Management”.

The NGGA is a five-year USAID funded agriculture project being implemented by a consortium of NGOs led by Care International in Ghana and partnered by ActionAid Ghana, SEND-Ghana and WANEP-Ghana.

Africa, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Mandela’s vision for a better world

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A press release from The Elders

The Elders, an international group of ex-world leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, releases a short documentary celebrating their ten years of work across the globe.

• The film features never-before seen footage of Nelson Mandela, President Carter and Richard Branson meeting in 2007 to set the agenda of their work.

• The film’s launch coincides with both Nelson Mandela’s birthday and International Nelson Mandela Day.


Film: Mandela’s Vision for a Better World

Tuesday 18th July 2017 marks a significant milestone for The Elders as they celebrate ten years since Nelson Mandela founded the group, brought together for peace, justice and human rights. The group will gather in Cape Town to celebrate a decade of accomplishments with a screening of the documentary, and to launch their latest campaign, Walk Together; which aims to show solidarity with those who are most downtrodden and vulnerable in today’s world.

“We have nothing to lose, we have our careers behind us. So we should be free to raise our voices and steer people in the right direction.” –Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Laureate

The film begins with footage from The Elders’ first meeting in 2007, and includes unseen footage of Nelson Mandela with accompanying interviews from President and Nobel Peace Laureate, Jimmy Carter; Co-Founder of The Elders, Graça Machel; and first female President of Ireland, Mary Robinson.

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Question related to this article:
 
Where in the world can we find good leadership today?

What is the legacy of Nelson Mandela for us today?

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The documentary celebrates their work across the world, providing insight into the delicate negotiations that have gone on to address conflicts and geopolitical tensions in Iran, the Korean Peninsula, Cyprus and Israel/Palestine, and the group’s public advocacy on issues such as climate change, child marriage, equality for girls and women, and refugees and migration.

“We have all come a long way in the past decade, but our long walk to freedom, following in Madiba’s footsteps, will continue.” –Graça Machel

The Elders invite all viewers and supporters to join the Walk Together campaign to continue Nelson Mandela’s walk to freedom and tackle faultlines of division. We encourage you to share the video via Facebook or Twitter, or to feature the video on your website to help The Elders celebrate the achievements of the past decade and to continue to give the citizens of our world hope for the next ten years.

About The Elders

The Elders are independent leaders using their collective experience and influence for peace, justice and human rights worldwide. The group was founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007.

The Elders are Martti Ahtisaari, Kofi Annan (Chair), Ban Ki-moon, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Harlem Brundtland (Deputy Chair), Hina Jilani, Ricardo Lagos, Graça Machel, Mary Robinson and Ernesto Zedillo.

Ela Bhatt, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Jimmy Carter and Desmond Tutu are Elders Emeritus.

Find out more

For biographies of the Elders, blogs, photos, videos and more information about their work please go to www.theElders.org.

(Thank you to Janet Hudgins, the CPNN reporter for this article)

Africa, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Gambian Youth Engage in the Promotion of Peace, Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article from Webwire

From 3 to 8 July 2017, within the framework of the UNESCO Participation Programme, the Gambian National Commission for UNESCO, in partnership with UNESCO and UNFPA, gathered more than 200 young people from all regions of the country and their teachers, for a weeklong training at the Independence Stadium, Bakau, The Gambia. Students and their teachers learned how to promote fundamental values of peaceful co-existence, and better understand the concepts of Global Citizenship, Sustainable Development and Peacebuilding. At the end of the event, the participants adopted a Declaration calling youth organizations and national authorities for actions in favour of the integration of Global Citizenship Education and Education for Sustainable Education into the education system, the development of education and entrepreneurship programmes and the participation of community-based youth organization to decision-making processes.


Group Work during the Youth/Students Engagement to Foster Global Citizenship, Sustainable Development Initiatives and Peace Building in The Gambia Workshop ( Press Release Image: http://photos.webwire.com/prmedia/6/210972/210972-1.jpg )

After 22 years of autocratic rule and with 58% of the population under 25 years of age in the Gambia, young women and men are major agents of political change. “Young people are engine of growth, as they constitute the labour force of the Gambia. The peace and development of this country is in the hands of young people” emphasized Mr. Kunle Adeniji, head of the UNFPA Gambia Office. They have a very important role to play to ensure sustainable and peaceful development in the country.

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Question related to this article:

Will UNESCO once again play a role in the culture of peace?

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“Today, more than ever, it is important to raise awareness on the role that Gambian youth can play to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Their active participation is fundamental to the achievement of a peaceful and sustainable development and a proper management of issues related to education and skills, illegal migration, rise in crime rates, and climate change”, explained Hadjan Doucouré, Coordination officer of the Banjul Liaison Desk of the UNESCO Dakar Office.

This 6-days workshop aimed at empowering the Gambian youth from ASPNet, UNESCO Clubs Networks and Youth Organizations by providing them with the necessary life skills, and introducing them to the concepts of Global Citizenship and Sustainable development.

During the first 3 days, participants were introduced to SDG 16 which promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, and SDG 4 which calls on countries to ensure that all learners are provided with the knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development. SDG Target 4.7 particularly stipulates: “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

To encourage the participants to engage their communities, families and friends through innovative way and contribute to socio-economic transformation of their communities, the organizers devoted 2 days of training to the development of entrepreneurial skills and creative thinking.

The 6-day event concluded with one-day sports competition supported by the Youth Empowerment though Education and Sports Foundation.

Africa, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Central African Republic: peace agreement reached at Sant’Egidio

. DISARMAMENT & SECURITY.

An article by Jules Crétois in Jeune Afrique

In Rome, the Central African armed groups gathered with representatives of the institutions of the CAR and MINUSCA to sign an agreement for peace. Some appreciate the agreement, others less …

All the Central African armed groups – fourteen in total – gathered in Rome on the initiative of the Catholic community of Sant’Egidio, except for the 3R (“Return, Reclamation and Rehabilitation”), for logistical reasons. Their representatives, most of whom arrived from Yaounde, Cameroon, have been discussing since 15 June, in the presence of representatives of the Government, the National Assembly and the Presidency and a representative of the United Nations. . . . (continued here.


Photo from Saint Egidio
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Further Information from the website of Sant’Egidio

This afternoon [June 20] was signed in Rome, Sant’Egidio, an important “political agreement” paving the way for the pacification of Central Africa, plagued by years of civil war and grave internal tensions that have caused many victims and thousands of refugees. The document, which foresees an immediate ceasefire, was achieved through the mediation of the Community of Sant’Egidio, that for years has been working for the reconciliation of the country, with the presence of observers from the international community, of the UN envoy Parfait Onanga -Anyanga, the European Union and the Italian Government.

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(Click here for the French version of this article.)

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The agreement, signed by representatives of the numerous political-military groups present in the country and by President Touadera’s envoys-and resulting from three intense working days (and nights), revolves around three main points, which were illustrated at a press conference by the President of the Community of Sant’Egidio, Marco Impagliazzo. The points deal with the political situation, with security and with economic, humanitarian and social issues. In the first point, in addition to the ceasefire under the control of the international community, they reaffirm the will to respect the integrity of the national territory, the representativeness and the recognition of all political-military groups for the reconstruction of the country, the respect for the results of the 2016 presidential and legislative elections and, more generally, the work to build “a dynamic of reconciliation”.

Security is ensured by the free movement of persons and property, the restoration of state authority throughout the country, while at the economic, humanitarian and social level they are committed, inter alia, to the reconstruction and In the protection of national and international NGOs present in the country.

It is a real road map to get out of the crisis. It will be followed by a joint committee chosen with the consent of all and the participation of the Community of Sant’Egidio, that is thanked in the text of the agreement for its precious ” Mediation work “.

At the time of signing, among the moments of emotion and the solemn singing of the national anthem was also present the founder of Sant’Egidio Andrea Riccardi. The meeting of Rome was greeted on Sunday by Angelus by Pope Francis who recalled his historic visit to Central Africa in November 2015 and who encouraged the delegations present at the talks to “revive and strengthen the peace process”.

Africa, DISARMAMENT & SECURITY

Togo: Literary contest appeals to African youth for a culture of peace

. DISARMAMENT & SECURITY.

An article from Togo Top Infos (translated by CPNN)

From 21 to 25 August, Lomé will host the second African Peace Conference. For the occasion of this meeting, a literary contest has been announced for the youth of the 55 countries of Africa.

The objective of this competition, according to the organizers, is to make young people aware of their share of responsibility in promoting peace in Africa. Young people are invited to give their opinions through personal literary compositions. To apply, each young person must propose a composition of 4 to 5 pages, which must be submitted to the Permanent Secretariat of the First African Peace Conference. The 100 best compositions will be awarded prizes ranging from 500,000 to 2,000,000 CFA francs [870 to 3480 US dollars].


(Click on image to enlarge)

According to the General Coordinator of the Secretariat of the First African Peace Conference, Goupouguini Lamboni, “it is up to young people to go in search of peace from an early age. Wars are born in the minds of people, it is in the minds of people that we must fight them.” This is how the organizers of the competition intend to lead their struggle for peace in Africa.

For more information on the competition, go to www.paap-fapc.org. The second African peace conference is under the theme “Young people in search of peace in Africa”.

Click here for the French version of this article.

Click here for the English version of the Conference press release.

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Africa, DISARMAMENT & SECURITY

Togolese Republic to host “Second African Peace Conference”

. DISARMAMENT & SECURITY.

Press release by the Conference organizers

The Togolese Republic will be hosting from 21 to 25 August 2017 the ‘’Deuxièmes Assises Africaines de la Paix’’ hereinafter referred to in English as ‘’Second African Peace Conference’’ which has as its main theme “The youth in search of peace in Africa”.

Africa is still faced with the challenges of peace, security and stability. However, the determined efforts of our countries and the African Union to ensure the socio-economic recovery or even the development of the continent have been seriously drained by the scourge of armed conflicts.

This big event will be a privileged Forum for the youth not only to debate on the alarming situation of the continent : bloody wars, conflicts and centers of tension at the 3rd millennium but also to propose concrete solutions which will reinforce the ceaseless efforts displayed by the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution of the African Union.

This conference will also mark the end of four years of research devoted to the development of an action plan on the education of the culture of peace. This peace is one of the main concerns of the African youths, because without this, no economic or social development is attainable.

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(Click here for the French version of this article.)

Question related to this article:

Pan-African initiatives for peace: Are they advancing?

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[Note: African youth are invited by the conference to submit literary compositions promoting peace in Africa. See article here.]

At the end of this conference, the final document : THE LOMÉ PLAN OF ACTION in which will be found concrete actions in favour of peace, will be adopted and submit to the African Heads of State and Government for their appreciation at the thirty second ordinary Summit of the Assembly of the African Union so that peaceful and lasting solutions could be found for conflicts and wars in Africa.

For further information, please contact :

SECOND AFRICAN PEACE CONFERENCE

Organizing Committee

233, Rue Doufouli **Villa Tsowou Abalo N°77

01 Boîte Postale 4950 Lomé – Togo

Tel : (228) 22.37.07.22 ; 22.35.19.15 ; 90.45.11.42 ; 97.97.39.91 Fax : (228) 22.21.26.37

E-mail : secretariat@paap-fapc.org ; paapgkl@gmail.com ; paapgkl@yahoo.fr

Africa, DISARMAMENT & SECURITY

Nigeria: Plateau To Tackle Boko Haram With Peace Education

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from Concise News

The Government of Plateau has introduced peace education in primary and secondary schools to forestall the resurgence of Boko Haram and tackle the menace of radicalism among children and youths.


Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong   Photo: ScanNews

Deputy governor of the state, Prof. Sonni Tyoden, told the News Agency of Nigeria in New York that the state had paid dearly for violent conflicts.

Tyoden attended the 2017 Education Solutions International Conference in New York and delivered a keynote address on ‘SDGs-4: Character and Leadership Education in 2030 Development Agenda’.

He said Plateau would become the first and only state in Nigeria to have introduced peace education in its primary and secondary schools curricula.

”As a society emerging from the throes of violent conflict, so much is required in terms of functional and collaborative partnership with the global community to develop the educational sector.

”However, the current situation where peace education is only taught at tertiary levels may not be the best approach as far as the quest for the de-radicalisation of young minds is concerned,” he said.

To ensure its success, Tyoden said the state is willing to build strategic partnership with relevant stakeholders. The stakeholders, according to him, are the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and other International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs).

He also said the state would partner with donor agencies to tackle the problems of negative social indoctrination, as well as other challenges facing our education sector.

[Thank you to Janet Hudgins, the CPNN reporter for this article, and to the Global Campaign for Peace Education for calling this article to our attention]

Question for this article:
Africa, EDUCATION FOR PEACE