International Relations and Cooperation Minister of South Africa, Naledi Pandor has called on all Africans to exert every effort to ensure peace in the continent as it is the only root to development.
The Minister made the remark in a message she delivered at a program organized to honor and recognize those who made contributions to the success of the Pretoria peace agreement.
The minister said “Our continent is endowed with excellent mediation experts,”and she appreciated the parties for their successful achievement in the peace process.
The role played by the African high level panel and the leadership of High Level Representative of the Horn Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, supported by former Deputy President of South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, demonstrated commitment to realizing our aspiration for African Solutions to African Problems, Pandor elaborated.
The progress so far registered in the peace process gives Africa hope that silencing the guns in the continent is no longer a slogan but it is a strong possibility, she added.
“We have been closely observing the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement and we are really encouraged and pleased to say that the progress that we have noted gives us hope that silencing the guns in Africa is no longer a slogan but it is a strong possibility.”
She noted that out of the Pretoria Peace Agreement, the people of Africa will realize that conflict which is causing the continent to underdevelopment and that peace is the only root to development.
She called on all Africans to exert every effort to ensure that the people of Africa will enjoy peace on our continent.
“I really want to commend all parties in the steps they have taken to implement the Pretoria Peace agreement. We have seen the AU Monitoring, Verification and Compliance Mission playing a very important role in the peace building process in Tigray,” she added.
The South African Minister has also commend the continued commitment and support being provided by the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and TPLF to the processes required by the agreement.
The event was held under the theme: “Enough with War; Let Us Sustain Peace.”
Source: Ethiopian News Agency