From: emmanuel (emmanuel@bayou.com)
Date: Tue Jul 01 2008 - 09:47:21 EDT
AU to Demarcate Borders to Limit Conflicts
BuaNews (Tshwane)
1 July 2008
Posted to the web 1 July 2008
By Luyanda Makapela
Sharm El Sheikh
The African Union (AU) Commission has signed a $40 million peace support
programme with the Italian government to support regional border projects.
Addressing reporters at the AU Summit in Sharm-El-Sheikh on Tuesday, AU
Peace and Security Commissioner Ramantane Lamamra said the sanctioned
programme to demarcate the borders and eliminate conflicts would see an
end to Africa's border-ignited conflicts.
"We strongly believe that the Italian aid will further assist us not
only in trying to bring an end to the current conflicts, but to come up
with a concrete programme to avoid such occurrences in the future," said
Mr Lamamra.
The signing of the programme is set against the backdrop of an ongoing
border dispute between Eritrea and Djibouti.
Eritrea has stationed its troops inside recognised Djiboutian territory,
in an effort to grab the region, known as Ras Doumeira.
Armando Sanguini, the African Affairs Director at the Italian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs announced the Italian funding for the cross-border
initiative on the sidelines of the African Union Heads of State Summit,
which kicked off in Egypt on Monday.
AU Commission President Jean Ping said the border issue between Eritrea
and Djibouti was "deeply troubling and worrying" to him.
"We need a peaceful resolution to the conflict."
UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro also emphasised the need to
consolidate peace.
Ambassador Lamamra, who has recently taken over at the AU Peace and
Security Commission, said the funds would be spent on recruitment of
staff to promote the new border security roadmap of the organisation.
It will also use the money in anti-terrorism efforts across the
continent as well as ensuring the formation of an African standby force
becomes a reality.
"The conflicts in Africa show that extra-efforts are required for the AU
to define the borders.
"We need to contribute to these programmes more strategically because
peace and security is indivisible," he said.
On Friday, the AU called on member states to continue giving special and
sustained attention to peace and security issues on the continent.
"The commission is at work to bring its contribution to peace efforts
which require the authority and concerted action of all several Heads of
State," said AU Chairperson Jean Ping while addressing the 13th Ordinary
Session of the Executive Council in Sharm-El-Shaikh on Friday.
Mr Ping said Africa had many challenges that needed to be overcome in a
number of peace processes.
He mentioned the persisting crisis in Darfur, the recent dispute between
Chad and Sudan, as well as the situation between Djibouti and Eritrea as
issues of concern which pose a challenge to the AU.
"In this regard, I call upon all the Sudanese parties to engage,
unconditionally, and put an end to the conflict and the suffering
inflicted on the civilian population," said Mr Ping.
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