AU Reflection Forum: Threats of terrorism, poverty, must be addressed frontally – Adeoye

The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, has said that the AU must work towards addressing the challenges of terrorism, poverty and organised crimes that face the continent frontally and robustly.

Addressing the media on the topic of the ‘Second African Union Reflection Forum on Unconstitutional Changes of Government’, held by the Ministry of Information in Accra, Ambassador Adeoye stressed that a “multiplicity of challenges” face the continent despite the AU’s efforts in championing democratic principles.

“The African Union is a transformation vehicle. Through ‘Agenda 2063’ over the past 10 years the African Union has continued through our leaders to champion democracy, constitutionalism, the rule of law as well as sustainable development, he said, adding, “But the challenges remain, the multiplicity of challenges starting with terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime and of course poverty.”

He continued by stating that “to address these issues—peace, security, sustainable development—these threats must be addressed frontally and robustly.”

The AU has witnessed a disturbing trend of unconstitutional means of changing democratically elected presidents. In all, the continent has seen seven military takeovers over the last four years.

Read also:

• Coup in Niger: Deploying troops to another country amounts to declaring war – Agalga

“The African Union has over the past three [to] four years witnessed the new trend, the emerging trend of unconstitutional changes to government. This anti-constitutionalism also has far-reaching implications for our development aspirations nationally, regionally, and continentally and of course with international implications,” Ambassador Adeoye stated.

According to him, the Accra Reflection Forum, which started in 2022, aims to reinforce the commitment of stakeholders to abide by democratic principles despite its shortcomings.

He said, “Back in March 2022, the Peace and Security Council, then under the leadership of Ghana, started this Accra process. The first reflection forum was held in March 2022 here in Accra to demonstrate a multi-stakeholder approach as the best way to address unconstitutional changes in governments.”

Ambassador Adeoye further emphasized that “it is necessary to restate that democracy, yes, with its shortcomings, remains the best form of governance.” This, he said, is because democracy is an inclusive system of government, indicating that “women, children, youth—all have a role to play in safeguarding democracy.”

The 2024 AU Reflection Forum is slated for March 18–19, 2024, in Accra.

The post AU Reflection Forum: Threats of terrorism, poverty, must be addressed frontally – Adeoye first appeared on 3News.

Read Full Story