Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellati has stressed the importance of sustainable peace being based on national ownership and leadership. He made these remarks during a high-level meeting on African leadership and national prevention and peacebuilding, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The meeting was organized by Egypt in partnership with Kenya, the African Union, and the UN Office for Peacebuilding and Support.
Abdellati highlighted the significance of translating international and continental commitments into concrete national strategies and capacities. He emphasized the need to integrate prevention into national policies, rather than reacting after crises erupt. This approach is crucial for building resilient institutions and promoting sustainable peace. Egypt has been actively promoting this approach through its leadership in the African Union and other international forums.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister also underscored the role of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in promoting an African approach to prevention and peacebuilding. Launched during Egypt's AU presidency in 2019, the forum has been instrumental in shifting the focus from crisis management to prevention and institution-building. Abdellati showcased Egypt's efforts in this regard, particularly in championing post-conflict reconstruction and development within the AU.
Abdellati's remarks were echoed by Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nader Zaki. Zaki stated that Abdellati emphasized the importance of aligning the AU's updated policy on post-conflict reconstruction and development with the 2025 peacebuilding architecture review. This alignment is crucial for enhancing cooperation between the UN and AU and leveraging the capacities of the AU's post-conflict reconstruction and development center in Cairo.
The high-level meeting on African leadership and national prevention and peacebuilding brought together senior officials and experts to discuss ways to strengthen prevention and peacebuilding efforts in Africa. The meeting highlighted the need for a more proactive approach to preventing conflicts and promoting sustainable peace. Egypt's efforts in this regard have been recognized as a model for other countries to follow.
Abdellati concluded his remarks by emphasizing the need for international partnerships and financing to support national priorities and prevention efforts. He noted that investing in prevention is more cost-effective than responding to conflicts after they erupt. Egypt is set to host the sixth edition of the Aswan Forum in November, which will continue to promote the agenda of prevention, national ownership, and peacebuilding.
The Aswan Forum has become a key platform for promoting African leadership and ownership in peacebuilding and prevention efforts. Egypt's commitment to this approach reflects its recognition of the importance of sustainable peace and development in Africa. The forum's continued efforts to promote prevention and peacebuilding will be crucial in shaping the future of peace and stability in Africa.
Key points
- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdellati calls for sustainable peace based on national ownership and leadership.
- Egypt emphasizes the need to integrate prevention into national policies to promote sustainable peace.
- The Aswan Forum has become a key platform for promoting African leadership and ownership in peacebuilding and prevention efforts.
