Minister Attaf Calls for African Crisis Solutions

Algeria hosted the tenth edition of the "Africa Amnesty Month" on September 14 and 15, an event that provided a platform for African Union (AU) member states to address continental peace and security. The gathering in Algiers saw the participation of a delegation from the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC), led by Ambassador Hervé Dadjedji Djokpe of Benin, who expressed gratitude to Algeria for hosting this significant continental event. The initiative aims to entrench values of peaceful coexistence by encouraging the voluntary surrender of illegally held weapons and prioritizing dialogue and reconciliation over violence.

During the event, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf underscored his country's unwavering dedication to actively contributing to continental efforts to establish peace, security, and stability across Africa. Minister Attaf called for a reinforcement of the African Union's mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution. He advocated for a comprehensive and proactive approach that guarantees African solutions to African problems, explicitly rejecting foreign interference, which he noted could exacerbate situations and contribute to arming conflicting parties.

The "Africa Amnesty Month" initiative is integral to the AU's broader "Silencing the Guns by 2030" agenda, a flagship program of Agenda 2063. The event's theme, "Promoting the initiative, silencing the guns and strengthening sustainable peace through sharing experiences in small arms and light weapons control and demining actions," reflected its focus on preventing armed violence and fostering conditions conducive to sustainable development. Minister Attaf concluded the discussions by expressing hope for concrete outcomes from the continental gathering, aiming to curb the proliferation of arms and permanently eliminate colonial-era mines from the African continent.