President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) to intensify efforts to curb the alarming proliferation of arms and light weapons across the African continent. This comes amidst growing concerns over the widespread access to weapons in many African nations, which has resulted in violence, conflict, insurgency, the death of innocent people, and a rise in criminal activity.
Speaking at a dialogue themed ‘The Africa we want and the UN we need’, President Tinubu, represented by George Akume, the Secretary General of the Federation, stated the urgent need for collaboration between the AU and UN.
Emphasizing the democratization of the UN system, Tinubu stressed the necessity to address the evolving challenges of global governance.
Tinubu voiced grave concerns over the rising threats of terrorism, insurgency, and military intervention in African governance, particularly in West Africa.
He urged for innovative and cost-effective strategies for collaboration between the AU, UN, and the international community to stem the tide of arms proliferation, combat terrorism, and prevent military interference in governance.
Additionally, Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to ex-president Muhammadu Buhari, stated the importance of African advocacy for peace, security, and prosperity. He called for a continent united in promoting constitutionalism, human rights, and human dignity as non-negotiable values.
Addressing the need for UN reform, Gambari stated the need for a Security Council that is not paralyzed by veto misuse and advocated for Africa to have two permanent seats on the council.
He also stated the importance of multilateral institutions playing a stronger role in Africa’s development, with governance reflecting effective African participation.
