(NAN) World leaders on Thursday agreed to redesign security architecture to effectively address the challenges of insecurity occasioned by insurgency and conflicts across the African continent.
The resolution is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day Nigeria’s centenary international Summit on “Human Security, Peace and Development: An Agenda for Africa”.
The Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, read the communiqué of the Summit which was attended by local and foreign participants including 30 Presidents and Heads of Government from Africa, Europe and other continents.``They recognised that the enemies of the State today in Africa are faceless, driven by religious extremism, ethnic mistrust, rivalries and propaganda of hate.
``African leaders now agreed that act of terror against one nation is an act of terror against all.
``Leaders agreed not to use their countries as havens for terrorists and to cooperate to adopt protocols that allow countries to pursue terrorists well into safe havens in other countries and manage their political boundaries to end trans-boundary terrorism and insurgencies.’’
The communiqué stressed that ``the battle against terrorism is a battle for democracy,’’ and called for greater cooperation in intelligence gathering and sharing.
It also said that the African leaders resolved to stem the proliferation of small arms and light weapons which aid terrorism and other trans-nationally transmitted organised crimes.
According to the communiqué, the participants of the conference lauded the efforts of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to deal with the menace of Boko Haram sect.
It said the leaders pledged their solidarity and support of their various countries in the war to deal with terrorism in Nigeria.
The Communiqué stated that African leaders resolved to redouble their efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and culture in their respective countries especially through greater commitment to good governance, transparency and the rule of law.
To this end, it said cost of governance, elections and electioneering should be reduced to deliver the full dividends of democracy to their people.
The communiqué said the leaders also committed to work harder to address the scourge of terrorism that threatened human security, peace and development in several African countries.
They also agreed that Africa and the international community should act in concert to reduce the drivers of illicit trade and transfer of small arms and light weapons.
The African leaders noted that the youth bulge in Africa and rising unemployment among the skilled and the educated were a major challenge to human security, peace and development.
They, therefore, called for a sharp focus on creating jobs for Africa's teeming youth population in the areas of skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development, agriculture as a business and in terms of access to finance.
The leaders also called for an urgent need to reduce inequality and ensure inclusive growth including social policies that improve access to food, water, housing and education that were crucial to inclusive social participation.(NAN)
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