The importance of prevention - of conflicts, as well as of natural and man-made disasters - was underlined by all participants in the e-discussion that took place on Wednesday 20 January on the theme ‘Building Resilience, Peace and Security in the Africa-EU Partnership’ between the European and African Union Commissions and representatives of African and European civil society.
This debate - the seventh of its kind to consult civil society - was above all an opportunity for EU and AU representatives to present the main lines of the future strategic partnership being prepared on these issues.
They all stressed the link between humanitarian, security and development.
“Stability in Africa is not only an African issue, but African problems call for African solutions”, said the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, pleading for greater EU involvement, but also for the involvement of African regional organisations as the main actors in these African solutions and for more anticipation. “We are not and do not want to be firefighters”, he said.
The High Representative hopes that the new ‘European Peace Facility’ will enable more effective support to African peacekeeping operations and called for “a more strategic partnership to address threats that are evolving faster than our ability to adapt”, such as terrorism and cyber crime. “We should not look to the EU for funding after the decisions have been taken”, he warned.
According to Ambassador Abdoulaye Diop, representing the African Union Commission, it is not just a question of calling for funds, but of having a strong dialogue on prevention and investing in prevention.
And more precisely: “Prevention means not only investing in preventive diplomacy, but also making meaningful investments to create jobs for young people”, to fight against climate change which is causing population displacements.
An African citizen called for action to combat the plundering of natural resources that fuel conflict in Africa.
Recalling that the majority of humanitarian crises in recent decades have taken place in Africa, where 400 million people live below the poverty line, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, insisted on the EU’s willingness to go beyond humanitarian aid, 43% of which goes to Africa, to “address the root causes of poverty, linked to conflicts, but also to economic, social and governance factors”. Referring to climate change and pandemics, he stressed the importance of being better prepared, “preparedness is at the heart of resilience and is cost-effective”.
The European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, assured that the programming of EU aid to Africa, which has just begun, will take into account all these requirements and challenges. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)