African Union Reports $18 Billion Loss Annually Due to Conflicts
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Kenyan President William Ruto highlighted that Africa suffers an estimated annual loss of $18 billion due to ongoing conflicts, displacing millions. He emphasized the urgent need for reform in the AU’s security framework during a recent retreat in Nairobi.
Key Takeaways
- Africa loses approximately $18 billion yearly due to conflict.
- Current AU security architecture is inadequate for complex challenges.
- Over 35 million people are internally displaced in Africa.
- Recent statistics show 1,000 terrorism incidents with 4,818 deaths.
- Peace is essential for Africa's development goals.
Nairobi, Jan 27 (NationPress) Kenyan President William Ruto, a prominent advocate for African Union (AU) reforms, stated on Monday that ongoing conflicts are obstructing Africa’s potential, incurring a staggering cost of approximately 18 billion USD each year while displacing millions of individuals.
Ruto highlighted that the continent is currently home to 35 million internally displaced individuals, 8.9 million refugees, 1.1 million asylum seekers, and 1 million stateless individuals.
“Between April and June 2024 alone, about 1,000 terrorism incidents were documented across Africa, leading to 4,818 fatalities,” he mentioned during the high-level Extended Bureau Retreat on AU Institutional Reforms held in Nairobi.
The day-long gathering included leaders from Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Comoros, alongside Moussa Faki, Chairperson of the AU Commission, aimed at accelerating reforms within the 55-member continental organization.
Ruto remarked that the current AU security framework is inadequate for addressing the continent’s intricate dynamics and challenges, emphasizing the urgent requirement for revitalizing the peace and security architecture.
He further noted that the AU's presence in regional hotspots is weak, fragmented, and lacking resources, as reported by Xinhua.
The Kenyan leader asserted that the continent’s developmental ambitions are being stymied by destabilizing elements, given that peace is fundamental for development.
Last week, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi called for enhanced efforts to sustain peace and security in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa, underlining the region's strategic significance for global stability.
Sisi made these comments during a joint press briefing with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud after their meeting, as stated by the Egyptian Presidency.
“We concurred on the necessity to amplify efforts to uphold peace and security in this crucial region, which impacts global security,” Sisi remarked, referring to the Red Sea and Horn of Africa.
He emphasized the outcomes of the upcoming October 2024 Asmara Summit involving Egypt, Somalia, and Eritrea, describing it as “noteworthy progress in relations and coordination among our nations,” and stressed the importance of building on this summit with a second trilateral conference “to strengthen this partnership.”
