Armed conflicts exacerbate the scourges of hunger, misery and disease, force population migration, drive away private foreign investment, increase unemployment and other social ills, the president said in a virtual forum.
For the first time, the continent is celebrating the Day of Peace and Reconciliation on January 31 as a wake-up call for the need to find solutions to the serious problems that exist, he said.
The commemoration was launched in 2022 by the African Union (AU) summit held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to analyze the problem of terrorism and unconstitutional regime change, recalled Lourenço, expressing gratitude for recognizing the Angolan experience in terms of performance and maintaining peace .
In his message, the leader called for moving away from the past of disagreements that conditioned and hampered the implementation of economic development strategies that would allow the continent to reach an acceptable level of competitiveness with other regions bring the world. .
In this context, he stressed the collective responsibility for compliance with the goals enshrined in the AU’s Agenda 2063, including the purpose of silencing guns.
He also defended the strengthening of Africa’s fledgling democracies, which must be able to defuse tensions and discord that have recently served as a pretext for unacceptable unconstitutional changes of government.
According to Lourenço, the dream of an economically strong and socially stable continent that eliminates hunger and misery and guarantees employment and prosperity for its children can be achieved.
It is achievable, he stressed, if we work together to achieve final peace across the continent, declaring zero tolerance for terrorism, coups, inter-ethnic and religious wars, and wars between neighboring countries.
Energy, talent and resources of all kinds in Africa must be devoted first and foremost to economic and social development, said the President, whose entire speech was televised here on national television.
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