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The peace and security situation in Africa is still tenuous and fragile, says the Chairperson of African Union (AU) Commission Jean Ping.
Speaking at the opening of the 15th AU summit, Ping said although the last six months were marked by the redoubling of efforts to promote peace and security, compliance with the rule of the law and observance of constitutional order, the progress achieved was still tenuous and fragile.
He said there had been the persistence of certain conflicts citing Guinea Bissau, Cote d'Ivoire and Central African Republic, where the peace process and reconstruction necessitates additional efforts to be achieved.
"2010 has been declared the 'Year of Peace and Security in Africa'. On the ground, we cannot but admit the persistence of certain conflicts, the eruption of crisis linked to elections and the resurgence of the scourge of coup d'etat," said Ping in his opening speech at the summit.
In the war torn Somalia, Ping said the fragility of the situation remained a concern, although the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has deployed untiring efforts towards dialogue and reconciliation with other Somali stakeholders.
He said the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces still faced several challenges. "With regards to AMISOM, the challenges it faces have been real," said Ping.
He told the African leaders that Guinea was to deploy a battalion of troops for a peacekeeping mission in the volatile Horn of Africa country.
"We should welcome the arrival of the next Guinean battalion and the urgent contributions of troops that IGAD (The Intergovernmental Authority for Development) has decided to make to reach and even surpass the authorised troop limit of 8 000 soldiers," he said.
During the three-day summit that kicked off yesterday, Heads of State and Government are expected to discuss the peace and security situation in the continent, seek a common position to dissolve the crisis and achieve social and economic development.
The African leaders will also discuss the main agenda of the meeting, which is maternal, infant and child health and development in Africa. - BuaNews
