Africa is a mosaic of peoples, trends, challenges, opportunities and narratives that are deeply connected to internal and global events, in the words of UN Security Council President Pedro Comissário Afonso. But it is also beset by enormous problems. To overcome them, it is critical for Africa to become an important player on the global stage.
The United States agrees. “African governments, institutions, and people play a crucial role in advancing global priorities,” said Robert Wood, United States Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs. “The United States is fully committed to strengthening our partnerships with African states to tackle shared challenges.”
“The United States was proud to partner last December with other Security Council members and the African Union to support the adoption of Resolution 2719. This resolution will promote cooperation, collaboration, and sustainable burden and responsibility sharing between the AU and UN to address peace and security challenges in Africa,” he said.
“Trade and development are important pillars of security,” said Ambassador Wood. “That’s why the United States has supported programs like the African Growth and Development, respect for human rights, and the rule of law are equally interconnected in promoting security.”
“Poor and exclusionary governance, high levels of corruption, the undermining of democratic processes, and human rights abuses have enabled terrorists and other malign actors to thrive and weaken the trust of citizens in their leaders and institutions,” he said. “Democratic governance based on respect for human rights and human dignity is essential to creating opportunity for all.”
One of the problems facing several African nations is that “abuse of power and weak institutions give way to unconstitutional changes of government, leading to greater insecurity and destabilization,” said Ambassador Wood.
“Through our Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability, we are working to promote stability through a focus on good governance, such as ensuring diverse perspectives, such as those of women, youth, and other often-overlooked groups, are meaningfully included in decision-making around peace and security in Libya, Mozambique, and coastal West Africa.”
“The United States has been proud to deepen and expand our partnerships between the United States and African countries,” said Ambassador Wood.
“We will continue to stand with populations, civil society, and the private sector to urge governments to be more responsive and accountable to the people they serve. Strong, accountable, and democratic institutions generate greater prosperity, deliver tangible benefits, and meet with greater success in ensuring peace.”
