The country’s ambassador to the African Union discusses plans for Senegal’s 2022 tenure.
The PSC Report spoke to HE Mohamed Lamine Thiaw, Senegal’s ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union (AU). We asked him what the country’s priorities are as AU chair.
I, first of all, want to congratulate the Democratic Republic of Congo for its commitment and admirable fashion in which it led the continent during the past year.
As our union celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, it is important to highlight the progress made by major initiatives. These include the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, the African Peer Review Mechanism, and Agenda 2063. Also noteworthy are AU institutional reforms, the Great Green Wall, the Continental Free Trade Area and, more recently, the coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the same time, numerous pressing challenges remain for peace and security, the fight against terrorism, environmental protection, health, and economic and social development. Senegal will prioritise peace and security, especially given the worrying upsurge in coups d’etat, which constitutes a major attack on democracy and institutional stability on the continent.
We also cannot ignore lost lives, bereaved families, millions of displaced persons or refugees, closed schools and health facilities and loss of social cohesion. Hence the urgent need for collaboration to silence the guns and build a culture of dialogue and consultation within the framework of African conflict resolution mechanisms.
Also crucial is the health crisis linked to COVID-19, which clearly revealed the need for urgent pharmaceutical and medical independence. A dynamic pharmaceutical and health industry has emerged on the continent. Some countries are already producing vaccines, and others will follow.
We should maintain this new momentum, keeping health issues firmly on our agenda and supporting the emergence of an African pharmaceutical industry. This will enable us to satisfy our essential needs, and deal with pandemics such as HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, malaria and cancer.
We cannot ignore lost lives, bereaved families, displaced persons and loss of social cohesion
This is governance that maintains justice, promotes social progress and establishes a better life for all. It is governance backed by transparency, accountability and openness in managing revenues from the exploitation of natural resources.
Naturally, the role of AU chair is to invite member states to establish a culture of democracy and good governance, particularly through full implementation of AU and related regional and international instruments. Added to this is the call to respect the rule of law, the conduct of free, transparent and inclusive elections, and the promotion of constitutionalism.
Its role is also to stimulate reflection to provide a comprehensive solution to the causes of unconstitutional changes in government. This should enable the continental organisation to adapt its governance architecture to respond adequately to emerging threats and challenges. It is also the impetus for the summit on terrorism and unconstitutional governments to be held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in May 2022.
What issues will be addressed by the 2022 heads of state meetings?
Issues on the agenda will necessarily reflect the current challenges and priorities for our union
Urgent matters that involve the lives of people and the future of countries will be discussed, among them peace, security, stability, the fight against terrorism and the resurgence of coups d’etat. These emergencies demand individual and collective reflection on the need to pacify the continent promptly so that we can develop our countries and focus on African integration.
Although progress has been made, there can be no true development nor integration without peace, security and stability.
Clearly, this has to go hand in hand with addressing economic issues. The focus should be on a greater share of mining revenues and the need to reverse the unnecessarily high risk perception that penalises the continent when it comes to access to financing, notably on financial markets.
We also still have far to go to achieve the objectives of Agenda 2063. Thus, we must urgently reflect on what brings us together and makes us move forward on the path of progress. It is the only dynamic that transforms the concept into action to give results. This presupposes defining our own priorities, with a streamlined agenda and working methods that leave enough time for debate on substantive issues that are vital for the continent.
How will Senegal continue the peacemaking efforts of former AU chairs?
Senegal’s AU chairship comes as concerted efforts are needed to advance peace and security on the continent, as has been the case with previous AU chairs. The country will spare no effort in the quest for this and its troops are already participating in various peace support operations.
Senegal will continue to advocate for a global coalition to take greater responsibility for peace and security and to finance peace enforcement and peacekeeping operations on the continent, with more adapted mandates. We will work with all partners, particularly the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) – whose responsibility is world peace and security – and also with partner countries.
In this regard, it is fortunate that the Senegalese chairship coincides with the renewal of its mandate as a member of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) for the period 2022-2024.
How will you enhance the PSC relationship with regional economic communities (RECs) and regional mechanisms (RMs)?
This issue has been on the PSC agenda many times. Its meetings have greatly strengthened its collaboration with RECs/RMs in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts and crises, and in promoting peace, security and stability in Africa.
Today, the RECs/RMs are acknowledged as the main actors in conflict and crises in their jurisdictions, according to the principles of subsidiarity, complementarity and comparative advantage. Regular consultation among the bodies is important to harmonise decision-making and effectively implement the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA).
History and present burdens cannot inhibit our desire to deconstruct prejudices that hinder Africa’s progress
We also recognise the importance of cooperation between and within RECs and RMs to share experiences, lessons learnt and good practices in conflict prevention, management and resolution, even post-conflict reconstruction and development. Financial independence in peace efforts will also come under the spotlight. The AU Peace Fund must be operationalised speedily and be active in mediation and preventive diplomacy, institutional capacities and peace support operations so that resources are deployed effectively and efficiently.
What should the AU prioritise in its engagement with the United Nations and other multilateral partners?
More than 60 years after the first African country gained independence, the continent is more determined than ever to take its destiny into its own hands. It cannot be the preserve of one against the other. Current AU chairman, HE Macky Sall, has pointed out repeatedly that Africa remains open to all partnerships, without exclusion or exclusivity. The proviso is that they are mutually beneficial and respect the priorities, development and choices of African societies.
The destiny of our continent is in our hands, but also depends on global political, economic and financial governance that pays scant regard to the future of our countries. We must continue to advocate for more open, transparent and inclusive multilateralism, starting with a more equitable representation of Africa at the UNSC in line with the Ezulwini consensus.
We must also concentrate more on the reform of international economic and financial governance for better access by our countries to development finance. Another issue is the energy transition, particularly given the fight against global warming. Our countries cannot succeed in the transition and eradicate the pollution of industrialised countries without a viable, fair and equitable alternative. Exploitation of natural gas as a transition energy source must be supported.
The restitution of our looted cultural heritage will be high on our agenda with our partners, because it is an integral part of our civilisational identity. It connects us to our past and forms the legacy we must bequeath to future generations. The weight of history and the burdens of the present cannot inhibit our desire to deconstruct the prejudices and determinisms that hinder our continent’s march of progress.
The priorities cited above and many others sufficiently show the interconnection of global issues. Hence the urgent need for a renewed and strengthened partnership with all international actors. The era of singular destinies is over, because no one can live on self-preservation alone. The journey to a new world order is irreversible.
Africa, having borne history’s weight, will finally free itself from burden to be accepted and respected in the new global governance dynamics that will forge the common destiny of humanity. Our continent can no longer be satisfied with the promise of being ‘the continent of the future’, according to the popular phrase. We must work for a future that delivers that promise.