Intl support urged to prevent conflicts in Africa

YOKOHAMA, Japan - African countries on Monday urged the international community to continue to support Africa's efforts at conflict prevention and resolution, peace support operations and post-conflict reconstruction.

In the Yokohama Action Plan 2013-2017, adopted at the just concluded Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African development (TICAD V), leaders and representatives of African countries also called on the United Nations to continue to engage with Africa in these efforts.

"Recognizing the UN's important role, the reform of the UN bodies, in particular the Security Council, is critical," says the document.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who is here to attend the TICAD V, said on Sunday he hoped Africa should have the permanent membership of the UN Security Council so as to play "a full part" in safeguarding global peace and stability.

A closed-door meeting was held Monday morning on the sidelines of the TICAD V between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, leaders of the Committee of 10 African States on UN Security Council Reform and Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma of the African Union Commission to exchange views on the reform.

The action plan also emphasized that inclusive development is important to reduce causes of conflict, noting that socio-economic discontent resulting from youth unemployment, gender inequality, extreme poverty and economic disparity, in many cases, can lead to violence and conflict.

The document urged African countries and international partners to take concerted action to combat terrorism and eliminate sources of financing, including the payment of ransoms, as well as human and drug trafficking.

"Piracy poses a serious threat to the safety and security of maritime navigation, shipping and related activities, particularly off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Guinea, and requires a comprehensive solution both on the high seas and on land," says the action plan.