Phone: +254 757 554 355
Email:
ayc@auyc.org
AYC at ECOWAS Non-State Actors Conference on Terrorism in ECOWAS region
On 26-27 August 2019 in Niamey, Niger our Commissioner of Political Affairs, Mr. Moussa Fara Diop and Executive Secretary, Mr. Kawsu Sillah attended the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Regional “Non-State Actors Conference on Curbing Terrorism and Violent Extremism” in ECOWAS region.
A two-day civilian stakeholders meeting is organised by ECOWAS Commission in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
It brought together 100 civil society representatives mainly from traditional and religious groups, youth, women, non-governmental organisations and others from the fifteen ECOWAS Member States including Cameroun, Chad and Mauritania to discuss the growing threats of terrorism, violent extremism and inter-communal clashes in the Sahel Region.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Madame Lamido Ousseini Salamatou Bala Goga, the Minister of State for African Integration and Nigeriens Abroad of Niger emphasized that terrorism constitute the major threat to peace and security in the region and has become a trans-border threat that is spreading to other countries. Thus the needy for all parties at the state and non-state levels to find solutions to ending the menace of terrorism.
Madam Finda E.M. Koroma, the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission in her opening remarks commended the efforts and determination of His Excellency Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic of Niger and Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, in resolving security issues and terrorism in the Sahel region in particular.
“This threat of terrorism, which is the topic of our meeting over the next two days, is of great concern to us in West Africa. Our region is regularly targeted by terrorist incidents perpetrated almost on a daily basis,” She said.
Vice President Koroma stressed the need to address the root causes of radicalisation and violent extremism in other to fight and eradicated terrorism in the ECOWAS Region.
Highlighting the negative effects of violent extremism and its threats to human development, Gen. Francis A. Behanzin, Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the ECOWAS Commission outlined that the Niamey meeting provides opportunity for stakeholders in the region to participate in finding solutions to ending terrorism in the region.
He underlined the critical role to be played by civil society stakeholders and encouraged them to propose a strategy that can be adopted by the region to eradicate radicalisation and violent extremism.
Madam Ruby Sandhu-Rojon, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) stated that their participation at the meeting demonstrates UNOWAS solidarity and commitment to putting an end to the scourge of terrorism in the region.
“No country or actor can win this fight alone. Also, we need even more constructive partnerships,” She said.
Also speaking at the opening, Madam Diana Louise Ofwona, Resident Representative, UNDP Niger, while reading a statement on behalf of Madam Ahunna Eziakonwa, the Assistant Administrator and Director, UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, stressed that UNDP is trying to achieve a regional approach of shared responsibility, through the Humanitarian for Peace and Security development initiative.
The Stakeholders’ meeting will be followed by a Joint Meeting of the Chiefs of Defence Staff, Chiefs of Security and Intelligence Services on Terrorism on the 28th and 29th of August 2019 in Niamey.
These two meetings are in preparation for the Ministerial meeting on the 12th of September 2019 in Ouagadougou, and then followed by the Extraordinary Summit of ECOWAS Heads and Government on Terrorism on the 14th of September 2019.
Full report, please view ECOWAS website from this link: https://www.ecowas.int/civilian-stakeholders-meet-on-terrorism-and-violent-extremism-in-the-ecowas-region/
-End-
AYC Webinar on Preparing Youth for the Future of Work
African Youth Commission in collaboration with Plan International Regional Hub, Plan RESA Country Offices, Africa Youth Trust, Office of the African Union Envoy on Youth and International Organisation of Employers, Forum for African Women Educationalists and other partners, as part of activities marking the International Youth Day 2019, jointly organised Twitter Chat and Webinar on ‘Preparing Youth for Future of Work’ with particular focus on inclusion of girl and young women.
The theme for 2019 International Youth Day is ”Transforming Education”. In the webinar will seek to:
1. Spotlight Young ‘Education Transformers’ innovations across the region
2. Highlight partnership opportunities between youth-led networks, governments, AU/UN agencies and other education stakeholders to transform education
3. Provide a platform for African youth to voice their demands to policy makers as well as highlight their roles and contributions in transforming education to Prepare Youth for Future of Work.
The webinar will be preceded by a Twitter chat in a moderated panel to highlight the importance of transforming education in preparing the young men and women in Africa for the Future of Work. This webinar will take place on 12th August 2019 at 13h00-14.30pm EAT. To participate in the webinar, join the meeting through this GoToMeeting link https://www.gotomeet.me/youthandfutureofwork