Commissioner Smail Chergui addresses the press on the Status of Peace and Security in the Continent
Within the framework of the 26th African Union (AU) Summit, the Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui, on 31 January 2016 briefed the media on the key peace and security decisions of the Summit. During the briefing, Commissioner Chergui discussed Burkina Faso, North Mali, Sahel, Somalia, South Sudan, Burundi and Africa's efforts to counter the global scourge of terrorism.
On the issue of terrorism, Commissioner Chergui announced the holding of a donors' conference, in Addis Ababa, on 01 February 2016, to generate additional resources to support the Multi-national Joint Task force (MNJTF) to counter the Boko Haram terrorist group. On Somalia, he called on the international community to enhance its support to the Somalia government and people, as well as the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), to enable Somalia proceed with elections, continue its stabilization and institution building, and defeat the Al-shabaab terrorist group. On South Sudan, Commissioner Chergui emphasized that African Heads of State and Government had urged the South Sudanese Parties to fully implement, without pre-conditions, the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement they signed last August.
With regard to the situation in Burundi, Commissioner Chergui announced that the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government has decided to send a high-level delegation to Bujumbura to discuss with the Burundian Government and allay the Government's fears/reservations regarding the planned deployment of an African Prevention and Protection Mission (MAPROBU). He stated that the composition of the high-level delegation as well as the timing of its visit to Burundi will soon be announced. Commissioner Chergui further said that the mandate of the high-level delegation will be to talk with the Government of Burundi about the continuation of intra-Burundian dialogue in Arusha, Tanzania, as well as the planned deployment of MAPROBU. He emphasized that the mandate of MAPROBU will include protection of civilians, disarmament of militia, seizure of illegal arms and protection of Burundi's borders from infiltration by any foreign militia.
Commissioner Chergui further announced that H.E. President Jakaya Kikwete, the former President of the United Republic of Tanzania will take over as the new AU Special Envoy for Libya, and thanked H.E. Mr. Dileita Mohammed Dileita, the former Prime Minister of Djibouti, for his remarkable service to Africa as Special Envoy for Libya.