Security summit focuses on Africa

Addis Ababa. Around 60 senior leaders from Africa, Europe and the United States gathered in Addis Ababa for the Munich Security Conference (MSC) to discuss the joint fight against terror and extremism, crisis prevention and management in Northern and Eastern Africa.

“There are a lot of international meetings in this city. But no meeting is more timely and more important than this one,” said Hailemariam Desalegn Prime minister of the host country.

In a closed session, the gathering discussed the importance of Africa for international security, the problem of political violence surrounding elections, the impact of large trends like demography on Africa’s security landscape, as well as the state of Africa’s security architecture.

“It really is high time for a renewed special focus on Africa,” said MSC Chairman Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, in his opening statement on Thursday. ”Africa’s young and fast-growing population can offer enormous opportunities for its societies. If states can build infrastructures and institutions that match this growth, the 21st century will belong to Africa. If, on the other hand, states fail to do so, the discontent and frustration of Africa’s youth will fuel many of the security challenges we are already witnessing today,” he said.

During the two days meeting the participants have also exchanged ideas in an informal setting on the security risks posed by epidemics and climate change.

Participants also debated the chances of cross-Red Sea cooperation to create regional conditions conducive to stabilization. “The jugular vein of the world economy, from the Horn of Africa through the Red Sea, now has a knife to it”, one participating leader warned: “The area has never been less secure.” But discussants disagreed whether collaboration across the Red Sea was feasible. (NMG)