2018 was referred to as a year during which Africa registered positive developments in terms of peace and security, State of Peace and Security in Africa (SPSA) reported.
Presenting the the 2018 the State of Peace and Security in Africa report in Ethiopia’s lake shore city of Bahir Dar on Monday concurrent with the 8th Tana High-level Forum on Security in Africa, former President of Ghana and Chairman of the Forum, John Dramani Mahama said positive results have been achieved in the state of peace and security across the continent.
The report was delivered in the presence of African Union Chairperson, Musa Faki Mahamet, President Sahilework Zewudie and former heads of state who attended the forum.
Mahama noted some of the indicators that had made the continent to achieve better results in promoting peace and security including successful elections and democratic transition of power which he said showed that democracy is gradually taking root in Africa.
The participation of civil societies also observed in many part of the continent in respect to pushing forward Africa’s good governance, he stated.
The peaceful rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea has also been a glimmer of hope for further development of peace and security in the region, he said.
The hope for lasting peace in South Sudan and Somalia are also the other issues that the report highlighted as positive development towards sustained peace and security in the region.
“These are significant developments that were registered throughout the year, and it will be valuable to encourage the continent to strive for more changes,” he said.
He pointed out that the significant steps that are taken at the political level are helping to reinvigorate regional economy as the region is now preparing to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area effective in June this year.
However, civil unrest and internal conflicts within the countries, the outbreak of non-communicable diseases, and the advent of climate change are the agendas that have become a cause of concern in the region, Mahama said, citing the report.
The State of Peace and Security in Africa report provides contextual information that should, hopefully, inform the nature, quality and direction of the debate on these issues in the continent.
MG/as/APA