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Ahram Online
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi called on African leaders to exercise their responsibility acting on climate change to unite efforts facing challenges to stability and peace in the continent.
Sisi’s comment were made at the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, which is taking place in Aswan, Upper Egypt 11-12 December.
In a live speech on TV on Wednesday, Sisi urged African countries to join all efforts to overcome major problems facing Africa, mainly combating terrorism and associated phenomena of arms, human trafficking, illegal migration and rise in organised crimes.
The Egyptian president, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the 55-nations African Union, called on fellow heads of state to take decisive action to tackle climate change. “We all shall act with responsibility on the negative implications of climate change which have exacerbated desertification and scarcity of water and natural resources”; Sisi said.
“African countries have made progress on achieving development and bringing stability in the region”. Sisi said; citing the adoption of 2063 African development agenda and the initiative for a conflict-free continent by 2020, which is called ‘Silencing the Guns by 2020’.
He said, “Peace can only be achieved and sustained long term by bolstering the role of countries and governments in the exercise of sovereignty over their lands and enhancing their institutional capabilities in all fields.”
The two-day gathering focus on post-conflict reconstruction and sustainable development in Africa, bringing together African heads of state, world government officials and delegates from key international organisations; including the United Nations Development Program.
