Luanda – Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, on Wednesday in the Province of Luanda sent a message on the occasion of the Day of Peace and Reconciliation in Africa, which is being marked on 31 January, in which he highlights the importance that initiatives that lead to the construction of a culture of peace must take on for all Africans, especially young people.
According to the Head of State, who was awarded by the African Union (AU) in 2022 as the Champion for Peace and Reconciliation on the continent, this is a date of great importance that prompts reflection on the journey made so far and on the road that remains to be travelled in the quest to realise the great objectives of peace, stability and reconciliation on the continent.
"On this date, I emphasise the great importance for all Africans, and especially for young people, of initiatives that lead to the construction of a culture of peace and lean towards preventive diplomacy as irreplaceable vectors for conflict prevention on our continent," he said, pointing out that the continent is celebrating the Day of Peace and Reconciliation for the second time.
João Lourenço stresses that in May 2022, in Malabo capital city of Equatorial Guinea, he was appointed by the African Union as the Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa. Since then, he has dedicated himself with greater commitment to resolving the conflict in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as well as contributing to the normalisation of political and diplomatic relations between the DRC and the Republic of Rwanda.
He added that due to his responsibilities, he has been committed to finding peaceful solutions to the various conflicts that persist in various regions of the continent, constantly encouraging dialogue and promoting political consultation as a way of strengthening trust and building understanding between the parties at odds.
According to the statesman, it is in this spirit that the Republic of Angola endeavours to make its best contribution to building a culture of peace, hosting the Pan-African Forum for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence, the "Luanda Biennial", every two years, as part of a partnership established between the Angolan government, the African Union and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
In his message, he said that at the end of last year, the third edition of this forum was held in Luanda, with the participation of heads of state and government, political entities at different levels and personalities from different branches of the social, political and cultural life of our countries, to jointly address issues relating to the promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence.
João Lourenço said there were no other options but to identify peace, security and stability, aiming to "take care of the urgent task of creating human and material conditions, with the aim of promoting economic development and improving the living conditions of our populations".
He emphasised that it is with deep concern that there is a growing number of hotspots of tension and intense conflicts on the continent, such as the war in Sudan and coups d'état in West and Central Africa, which have torn human lives apart and caused the destruction of the social and material structure of societies and families where these disputes occur and created instability in neighbouring countries and on the continent in general.
To President João Lourenço, governments, political parties, civil society organisations and African citizens in general are all called upon to contribute to harmony, understanding and healthy coexistence. VC/VIC/MRA/DOJ
