Kikwete Says AU must work with SADC, Ecowas on peacekeeping

{{Tanzania has called for the African Union and the international community to support various peacekeeping missions led by regional groupings in Africa.}}

President Jakaya Kikwete made the call in Dar es Salaam yesterday as he opened the 368th ministerial meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council.

President Kikwete said since regional groupings are the ones close to the countries that experience political instability, it is wise for the AU and international community to work with regional groupings to find the solution.

“Since AU is a big organ, it is better for it to support regional groupings like Sadc and Ecowas in tackling conflicts in Africa because through regional groupings, it becomes much easier to coordinate these missions,” he said.

However, President Kikwete warned the AU and the international community not to take roles that contradict those led by regional groupings.

Speaking about the AU fiftieth anniversary scheduled for next month, President Kikwete called for AU member states to remain resolute in insuring democracy and the rule of law flourish in Africa.

“We have come a long way as a continent, from the days of frequent military coups to the present situation where there are very few conflicts,” said he.

Speaking about the meeting, the minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Bernard Membe, said among other issues, the meeting will discuss about the political crisis in Madagascar.

According to him, since the AU Peace and Security Council was formed in 2004, it has already held more than 200 meetings in resolving conflicts and crises in Africa.

For his part, the AU peace and security commissioner, Mr Ramtane Lamamra, said the meeting will receive a report from the Madagascar political crisis mediator, the former Mozambique president, Mr Joachim Chisano.

Mr Lamamra said he was optimistic that the Madagascar crisis will soon be addressed because all stakeholders in Madagascar have been involved in mediation meetings.

According to him, the meeting will thoroughly discuss measures on how the crisis should be addressed. Mr Lamamra commended Tanzania for its role in addressing political crisis in Africa.

“For the past fifty years, Tanzania has played a big role in addressing political crisis in Africa…the most recent example was how President Kikwete was involved in solving a political crisis in Kenya,” said he.

{NMG}