The United Nations (UN) has urged its Security Council to strengthen peace operations in Africa while noting that the gains made in the continent and elsewhere were reversing.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who made the appeal while briefing the UN Security Council, emphasised the need to strengthen the focus on prevention of crisis and building resilience.
The UN Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Africa continues to experience expanding and record levels of forced displacement, a result of predatory governments, political fragmentation, and violent extremist groups.
Figures from 2021 show that more than 32 million Africans are either internally displaced, refugees, or asylum-seekers as a result of conflicts.
According to the UN chief, exploiting natural resources or competition to exploit them can trigger violent conflict.
He said, ‘Within the Our Common Agenda report, the proposed New Agenda for Peace prioritises prevention and peace-building investments’.
‘Our peace operations must be empowered and equipped to play a greater role in sustaining peace at all stages of conflict and in all its dimensions’.
He noted that priorities should begin with bettering local community engagements and promoting more responsive and inclusive governments and institutions.
The UN chief also stated that peace operations contributed to shared goals for legitimate, responsive, and inclusive governance, created space for dialogue and political participation and reduced communal violence.
Guterres reminded the Security Council that peacekeeping played a ‘critical role’ in supporting UN operations in building resilience and sustaining peace.
Photo source: UN Malawi