The Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) organised a virtual seminar on Sunday, as part of the centre’s ongoing preparations for the third edition of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, scheduled for 21-22 June,
The seminar discussed ways to strengthen international efforts to prevent conflicts and build peace in Africa in light of the interlocking and overlapping challenges facing the continent and in light of the influential transformations taking place in the international arena during the current period.
Ahmed Nihad Abdel Latif — Director-General of the CCCPA — noted that since its first edition, the Aswan Forum has focused on ways to operationalise conflict prevention and peacebuilding frameworks through effective partnerships.
He added that this symposium coincides with the 30th anniversary of the “Agenda for Peace” that was launched by former UN secretary-general Boutros Boutros Ghali, which focused on preventive diplomacy and post-conflict peace-building — priorities that have long shaped the UN system to reach the new peace agenda of the current secretary-general.
Furthermore, Osama Abdel Khalek — Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the UN — reviewed Egypt’s long-term contributions to the development of the work of the UN in the field of peace, security, and conflict resolution since the launch of the peace agenda in 1992 through its membership in the UN Security Council (2016-2017) and its chairmanship of the Peacebuilding Commission (2021-2022).
He also referred to Egypt’s efforts during the UN General Assembly high-level meeting on financing peacebuilding, which gave impetus to efforts to provide adequate and sustainable funding to support peacebuilding activities.
Japan’s Ambassador in Cairo Oka Hiroshi praised the partnership between Japan and the CCCPA and stressed his country’s full commitment to support efforts to promote peace and security in Africa.
He added that this includes the implementation of the initiatives launched by Japan towards Africa in the framework of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 7) under the slogan ‘A new approach to peace and stability in Africa.’
Additionally, Sweden’s Ambassador to Cairo Hakan Emsgaard stressed the importance of cooperation between Egypt and Sweden in the fields of peace building, security, and development, as well as the integration of the work of both the Stockholm Forum for Peace and Development — which will be held next week — and the Aswan forum, and the importance of the CCCPA’s participation in this symposium, which will enrich the discussions within these forums.
Furthermore, Brazil’s Ambassador to Cairo Antonio Patriota pointed to the challenges facing multilateral action at this critical stage and the need to develop it accordingly.
The seminar was also attended by the Permanent Observer of the African Union (AU) to the UN Fatima Kyari Mohammed and a number of senior officials of the UN, the International Organisation of La Francophonie, and the African Development Bank.
These participants addressed the importance of strengthening partnerships between the UN, the AU, and other regional and international organisations in order to employ innovative tools and mechanisms to achieve peace, security, and sustainable development to harmonise the efforts of all regional and international institutions.
