African leaders agree on steps to drain conflict outbreak

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

September 2, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) — African leaders gathered in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, for AU’s special summit on security issues have agreed to collectively take stronger steps to end political and armed conflicts the continent failed to bring an end to.

Security concerns of Somalia, Darfur and the Great Lakes region being top on Agenda, winding up their 3-day summit, the African leaders have adopted “Tripoli declaration” and a plan of action to find urgent solutions, in a comprehensive manner, for the non stopping conflict and violence Africa is sinking into.

“We reiterated our full support for all ongoing peace efforts on the continent and urge all concerned parties to leave no stone unturned to end the conflict they are party to, bring hope to their people and build sustainable peace,” the leaders said in Tripoli declaration.

The African leaders have also agreed that the AU takes tougher measures against any group (among AU member states) that ruin peace efforts, refuse to cooperate with mediators or decline to implement an agreed frame work for ending any type of conflict. It also warns groups to refrain any involvement in sponsoring terrorism and piracy.

The summit called on all African states to fully abide by all the treaties that have been rolled out to boost democracy and good governance in the continent.

Other agreement reached in Tripoli orders member states to stop unconstitutional reforms, among most blamed for political tensions in Africa.

The AU, since established in 2002, has been broadly engaged in promoting peace and stability in Africa, carrying out the strategy of reform and poverty reduction and development in an effort to realize Africa’s renaissance.

DARFUR AND SOMALIA

On the Darfur conflict, the Tripoli declaration said that Darfur “no more is at war” except ongoing criminal acts of some outlaws taking place in Darfur at the present time.

The declaration called for intensifying efforts to push ahead Darfur peace process in Doha toward reaching stability and peace in the region.

It appreciated the efforts of the outgoing Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the African Union for Darfur, Rodolphe Adada, in reaching a comprehensive settlement in Darfur.

The UN estimates that up to 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have fled their homes amid violence that started six years ago in the arid region of Darfur.
On March 4, the International Criminal Court issued a decision to arrest President Omer Al-Bashir. The ICC warrant against Bashir includes seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Tripoli Declaration reaffirmed Africa’s stand toward arrest Warrant by the ICC against Sudanese President again as “unacceptable.”

Earlier in July, The African Union (AU) adopted a resolution last week stating that its members who ratified the Rome Statute shall not cooperate with the ICC in the extradition of Bashir in accordance with their legal obligations.

On Somalia, the African leaders reached agreement to strengthen presence of AU peace keeping force. AU said that Some African countries namely, Sierra Leone, Malawi, and Nigeria have already pledged to deploy forces as reinforcement to Africa mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Furthermore; the African leaders have called for an international conference on the rising piracy off the Somali coast.

(ST)