19 Apr 2018

President Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi has explained that peace, security and conflict resolution remain top priority for the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

Delivering a lecture themed Peace and Stability in Africa: Botswana’s perspective, at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), President Masisi underlined that SADC was deeply committed to the consolidation of democracy, peace and stability as demonstrated by adherence to SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections.

“At continental level the African Union (AU) is equally intensifying efforts to address conflicts and other issues that cause instability. Adoption of Agenda 2063 by the AU Assembly in 2015 and the commitment to silence guns by 2020 is a clear commitment by the AU leaders to achieve peace and secure Africa,” he said.

Mr Masisi said forging of close collaborations between AU Commission and the United Nations secretary general in addressing challenges that threaten peace and stability on the African continent was highly appreciated.

“The prevention of conflicts remain a primary responsibility of the state. The international community also shoulders such responsibility when the state fails to deliver or where the state itself is responsible for the conflict and the resultant humanitarian suffering. This is the part where we all continue to fail humanity, in my opinion it is mostly because of weaknesses embedded in the AU and UN systems in terms of conflict prevention resolution and maintenance of peace and security as well as the difficulty faced by the international community in general to assist those in dire need,” he added.

Mr Masisi said they continued to look up to the UN Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council to come up with solutions to the many conflicts, violations and abuse of human rights around the world and specifically in Africa.

He said it was important to address issues of impunity for the crimes and gross human rights violations that take place mostly during conflicts.

He said Botswana strongly supported the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the role it played in ensuring that those who are responsible for committing crimes against humanity are held accountable.

“As the new president of the Republic of Botswana I affirm Botswana’s commitment in joining the international community in collectively addressing issues relating to conflict, terrorism, organised crime and others that undermine Africans development efforts and indeed efforts of peace and security of the international community,” he said.

He added that like he did on April 1 when he took oath of office he commit to upholding the rule of law and maintenance of national unity, peace and stability for these are fundamental factors for the attainment of sustainable socio-economic development. ENDS