Qatar affirms its unrelenting efforts to resolve disputes in Africa by mediation

QNA New York The State of Qatar affirmed that, in collaboration with the Security Council, it has made unrelenting efforts in recent years to prevent and r...

QNANew YorkThe State of Qatar affirmed that, in collaboration with the Security Council, it has made unrelenting efforts in recent years to prevent and resolve conflicts on the African continent through mediation based on the United Nations Charter.Qatar also confirmed that this came as a contribution to addressing the root causes of conflicts and achieving security, peace, and development on the African continent, as well as within the framework of Qatar’s strategic partnership with the United Nations, where Qatari diplomatic mediation efforts led to the resolution of a number of conflicts in Africa, the most recent of which was the resumption of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Somalia and the Republic of Kenya, in a way that enhances stability on the African continent.This was stated by Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the UN, HE Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, during the Security Council’s open debate on “Peace and Security in Africa: Addressing Root Causes of Conflict in Post-Pandemic Recovery in Africa.”According to Her Excellency, the Security Council’s continued consideration of means to address the root causes of conflict reflects the extent of its effects on development in its human, economic, and social dimensions, as well as the urgent need for a comprehensive, coordinated, and effective response as an integrated approach to maintaining international peace and security.Her Excellency also said that the African continent is rich in great and diverse potentials, but the exacerbation and prolongation of the conflicts it faces casts a negative shadow on its ambitious plans, development, and humanitarian programs, and that it is therefore critical for the international community to work together to address the root causes of conflicts on the continent and help it to succeed.Her Excellency mentioned that, while African countries are working within the framework of the African Union to confront the dangers of armed conflicts and the challenges of sustaining security, stability, and development, the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has added to the burden and has had a negative impact on life. However, it produced additional lessons and incentives for promoting cooperation among African countries in order to advance the promising African agenda and achieve comprehensive recovery, through the development of sustainable development policies in their various dimensions, and strengthening the interdependence between peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities, in a way that contributes to ad hoc peacekeeping and peace building.Her Excellency indicated that in this context, it is the responsibility of the international community at the present time to assist African countries to strengthen their health systems and institutions and obtain vaccinations, and to emphasize the importance of implementing Security Council Resolution No. 2565 of February 26 regarding a ceasefire in all conflict areas in order to provide vaccination, and support the COVAX facility to provide vaccines to the people most in need of assistance, based on the fact that the pandemic is a challenge for everyone and that the response to it must be global and with the cooperation of all.Sheikha Alya said that in response to the challenges that less-developed countries, including those on the African continent, face in achieving sustainable development, the State of Qatar will host the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries and support their development efforts for the next ten years, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. There is also collaboration between the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Germany to build the UNDP Accelerator Labs, the world’s largest and fastest information network on developmental challenges. The organisation is currently active in 78 countries, the majority of which are among Africa’s slowest growing, and aims to address developmental challenges more effectively.Her Excellency added that, as part of international efforts to eradicate epidemics, QFFD and the World Health Organization (WHO) signed a three-year agreement to eliminate tropical diseases and other diseases in 49 African countries, benefiting nearly 400 million people. Her Excellency also said that, because recovering from the pandemic in Africa requires the recovery of all, Qatar took the initiative and offered medical aid to more than 78 countries around the world to assist them in dealing with the pandemic. The total amount of government and non-government aid received was $88 million. In addition, QFFD signed a core contribution agreement with WHO worth $10 million to support WHO’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 13) and COVID-19 response through the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A).Her Excellency said that Qatar Airways, for its part, has repatriated 3 million people, shipped medical equipment, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNICEF to support UNICEF’s Humanitarian Airfreight Initiative. In addition to supporting the COVAX facility, Qatar Airways will ship vaccines, medicine, medical equipment, and other supplies to ensure their fair and timely delivery everywhere, including the African continent.Her Excellency stressed at the end of the statement that Qatar will continue its partnership in the UN framework to address the root causes of conflicts, and that it will honor its commitments to maintain peace and security on the African continent and around the world.