Towards a Conflict Free Africa

This year agriculture is the main theme of the 22^nd Assembly of Heads of State and Government at the African Union (AU) – the AU Summit, which is taking place this week. But African leaders are also deliberating on the peace and security of the continent. Country situations at the top of the agenda are South Sudan, the Central African Republic and Somalia.

The Summit takes place against the backdrop of recent fighting in South Sudan, which has triggered widespread concern across the world. These are times that challenge the ability of regional organisations to broker peace and security. But I have been impressed by the way the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has facilitated negotiations, leading to an agreement on cessation of hostilities last week; and by the AU’s announcement of a Commission of Inquiry into related human rights issues.

Such conflicts have been the bane of sustainable development in Africa. Conflict condemns people to remain in (or return to) poverty, whereas wealth creation activities enable people to lift themselves out of poverty. But without peace and security, such activities cannot happen. Our task is to create conditions where they can – ideally by pre-empting conflict in the first place.

In 2014 two relevant conflict related issues will remain at the top of UK foreign policy priorities:

• In Somalia we will continue to help to deal with a range of challenges, from fighting terrorism and piracy; to managing migration; and supporting Somalia’s stabilisation and development, building on the successes of the past two years.
• And we will deliver on the Prevention of Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) campaign of our Foreign Secretary William Hague, to prevent the use of rape as a tool of war and destroy the culture of impunity that has grown up around it.

During the Foreign Ministerial section of the AU Summit, the UK delegation was led by our Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds. He used his visit to focus on the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) and the issue of Children in Armed Conflict, specifically to persuade those African countries that have not yet done so to sign up to the UN General Assembly’s latest PSVI Declaration. He also explored with the AU Commission the practical steps that can be taken to turn the UNGA declaration into reality.