Morocco Proposes Holistic Approach to Conflict Prevention in Africa

Thursday 16 May 2024 - 16:49

In a recent address to the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Morocco advocated for a comprehensive and holistic approach to conflict prevention in Africa. The country's stance was outlined during the 1211th meeting of the AU PSC, which was dedicated to evaluating the implementation of the Protocol establishing the Council, coinciding with its 20th anniversary.

Mohamed Arrouchi, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Morocco to the AU and the ECA-UN, emphasized the paramount importance of the Peace, Security, and Development Nexus approach for effective conflict prevention on the continent. Arrouchi underscored the necessity of assessing the Council's interventions in conflict prevention and resolution across targeted African regions, evaluating the methods employed, their efficacy, and their impacts.

Furthermore, Arrouchi highlighted the operational capacity of the Council, stressing the need for sufficient resources to effectively fulfill its mandate for conflict prevention, management, and resolution. He acknowledged the financial challenges faced by the Council and urged member states to provide both political and financial support to ensure its success.

Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to the AU's objectives, with Arrouchi noting his country's prompt fulfillment of financial contributions, particularly within the AU Peace Fund framework. Additionally, he advocated for a long-term perspective in evaluating the Council's effectiveness, emphasizing its enduring role in ensuring stability and development across African populations.

Notably, Arrouchi called for the integration of a multidimensional approach, based on the Peace, Security, and Development Nexus, into the strategies and operations of the AU PSC. This holistic approach, he argued, would enhance the Council's effectiveness by addressing the root causes of peace, security, and development challenges on the continent in a comprehensive manner.

By emphasizing the interconnectedness of peace, security, and development, Morocco's proposal seeks to address the multifaceted nature of conflicts in Africa, recognizing that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without addressing underlying socioeconomic and developmental factors. This holistic approach underscores the importance of tackling conflicts through a multidimensional lens, incorporating economic, social, and political considerations into conflict prevention and resolution efforts.