MALABO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Liberia’s President, George Manneh Weah, has reminded the continental body, African Union, not to forget the crisis between Ukraine and Russia.
Addressing a Summit of the African Union (AU) Friday, May 27, 2022, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, President Weah maintains that the Russia-Ukraine war hurts global trade and world economies.
“If we are to address the potential drivers of conflicts and climate change to confront the current humanitarian challenges, we must implement inclusive and initiative-taking policies in concert with the relevant regional and continental institutions, as well as our development partners,” he rallied African leaders.
President Weah also expressed strong conviction in Africa’s ability to build what he terms ‘resilience policies and responses through regionalism and linkages across borders.’
He said the greater action taken on regional and intergovernmental agreements will herald greater pliability in addressing the issues of conflicts and climate change.
With the guidance and commitment of Member States, the President is convinced that they can implement timely measures to ensure that no person, community, or nation is left behind in areas affected by conflict and climate change.
The Liberia leader pledged that Liberia would play a significant role in the affairs and structures of the AU in line with the flagship national development plan, the Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development, which he said is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
He also urged the Summit to continue to dialogue as a way of mitigating crises in the African Region.
According to President Weah, effective policy implementation and initiative-taking are important tools in addressing the numerous challenges the African Continent currently faces.
He called on his colleagues to consider prioritizing the involvement of relevant regional and continental institutions, as well as development partners, in tackling devastating situations facing the Continent.
The President acknowledged the fact that the African continent continues to face some of the most complex humanitarian emergencies caused by natural and human-induced disasters.
According to him, most of the situations are driven by terrorism, insurgencies, and civil conflicts, leading to mass displacements both within and across national borders.
“These predicaments have exponentially increased humanitarian needs over the years among the most vulnerable populations, who are already confronted with multiple risk factors of conflict and environment degradation, among others,” the President noted.
The President added that these risk factors have exacerbated the philanthropic needs of the Continent with more than 114 million of Africans in the fifteen most affected countries requiring urgent assistance.
President Weah told his colleagues that financing response plans have been severely underfunded to cope with the current challenges.
He stressed that “the funding gap between available income and expected expenditures remains exceedingly large.”
The President thanked Mr. Teodore Obiang Nguema MBASOGO; President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, for the hospitality accorded him and his delegation.
He also thanked Mr. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, for his preference as Chairperson of the African Union, noting that his decision to convene the Sessions was timely and welcoming.
