Luanda - The continent celebrates this Wednesday (31), for the second time, the Africa Day of Peace and Reconciliation, following the Declaration of the 16th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa, held in May 2022, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
In 2023, the first year of the celebration, as “Champion of Peace and Reconciliation in Africa”, President João Lourenço gave a speech to honor the event that took place in virtual format, from the AU headquarters, in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), where he highlighted that “it is only possible to achieve peace and reconciliation with actions aimed at creating a spirit of trust and unity in diversity for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts”.
On that occasion, he considered that armed conflicts aggravate hunger, poverty and disease, cause forced migration of populations, drive away foreign private investment, increases unemployment, as well as other evils that affect the daily lives of thousands of citizens.
In his message, delivered at a session of the AU Peace and Security Council, the champion of peace and reconciliation, stated that Africans want to see in the not too distant future a continent that is economically strong and socially stable, that overcomes illiteracy, hunger and misery, which guarantees employment and well-being for their children.
In April last year, the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, was designated “Champion for Reconciliation and Peace in Africa”, due to his commitment to pacification on the continent, especially within the scope of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL) and other areas.
At the closing of the 16th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa, led by the Angolan statesman, he said it was an honor to have earned everyone's trust to assume this responsibility, to which he will dedicate his commitment and all his strength, so as not to undermine this objective. VIC/CF/jmc
