Egypt has renewed its commitment to support international peace and security by participating in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions in Africa.
The reiteration of support came on the occasion of Egypt’s celebration of the UN International Day of Peacekeepers, which falls on 29 May.
Ahmed Hafez, Spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the country is currently participating in six UN peacekeeping missions in Africa, comprised of over 3,000 Egyptian army and police personnel.
Egypt continues contributing to efforts to bring peace and stability to the African continent.
He added that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic represents an additional burden on peacekeeping operations operating in difficult and dangerous security and humanitarian environments.
Hafez said that Egypt has always been at the forefront of support for UN operations aimed at conserving peace, since its participation in the UN mission in the Congo in 1960.
Egypt will continue to play this role, because the country’s forces participating in peacekeeping missions enjoy high professionalism and commitment to the highest standards of conduct and professional performance. It has also noted that it will expand the participation of Egyptian women in peacekeeping forces, he added
Hafez pointed to the complexity of the security environments in which peacekeeping operations are present, and the escalation of threats they face. These require intensified efforts to enhance the security and safety of the forces.
“Egypt supports the initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and promoting the efficiency of the UN peacekeeping system,” Hafez said.
This has provided objective insights and contributions to the Cairo roadmap to develop the performance of peacekeeping operations. He said that the African Union (AU) had adopted the Cairo roadmap as a common African position on the development and strengthening of peacekeeping operations.
Hafez also noted the outstanding potential of Egyptian training centres for peacekeeping operations. These provide Egypt with a distinct regional and international station for training in peacekeeping operations, with its civilian, police and military components.
