African Union and Confederation of African Football call for renewed commitment to peace in Africa

By African Union Commission (AUC)

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, February 10, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Joint press release

With a few days to go before the finals of the 28thedition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Jean Ping, today paid a courtesy call on the President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou in Libreville, Gabon.

“Of the many challenges facing Africa, the quest for peace and security is undoubtedly the most pressing,” said Dr. Ping during the meeting. “However, our renewed commitment to uniting communities across the continent, through football, will go a long way towards achieving our mutual goal of a peaceful and prosperous Africa,” he added. He thanked CAF for faithfully keeping alive the partnership initiated between the two organisations in 2010, within the framework of the Make Peace Happen Campaign, with the implementation of a number of initiatives to promote peace on the continent through football.

The President of CAF on his part pledged his organization's continued support to the AU's peace advocacy campaign, adding that “it is the duty of everyone in Africa's large football family to use their respective platforms to advocate for peace across the continent.”

The Chairperson was accompanied by the AU Peace Ambassador, Rabah Madjer, an African football icon, endorsing the Make Peace Happen campaign.