AU Laments Exorbitant Military Spending In Fight Against Terrorism

TAfrican Union ( AU), yesterday, decried the menace of conflicts which have conspired to weigh down the continent’s growth with terrorism, destroying some of the states and reversing priorities through increase in exorbitant military spending at the expense of vital social sectors.

In his speech as Chairperson of the AU Commission at the opening of the 37Th Ordinary session of the body holding in Addis Ababa, Moussa Faki Mahamat, also highlighted the absence of peace, political and institutional instability, poverty, climate change and deficit in economic governance amongst others as sources of concern to the people.

He lamented that conflict, violence and the decline of great principles have, unfortunately, taken over humility, peace and the nobility of the founding values of human civilisation.

This came as Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Mohamed Badaru, on Friday, declared that the country is poised to leverage the summit in Addis Ababa, to consolidate on partnership with its neighbours and memberstates to give the citizens a sense of safety on the continent.

Badaru spoke to newsmen after he arrived Addis Ababa, the summit venue, said Nigeria is also poised to end the menace of terrorism, and insurgency that has continued to bedevil the country. “As you are aware, peace and security of the continent is very important at this summit and Nigeria being faced by terrorism and insurgency will really look at possible areas of collaborations with both AU and member states.

“In particular, we are discussing with many African countries in building our defence industries, so that we can be able to produce high level defense equipments in Africa, basically in Nigeria also.”

The minister hinted that Nigeria will during the summit, also bring to the table and see how the AU standby force could be improved.

“It is really very important and we are looking at ways to see how the AU standby force can improve and can be active so that we can together as Africa work towards lasting peace and the agenda of silencing the guns by 2030.”