Botswana condemns Morocco’s aggression

ment of their Continent. For this reason, our Theme for this year, “Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development”, couldn’t be more appropriate. It provides us with yet another opportunity not only to reflect and recommit ourselves, but also to fast- track our efforts towards the implementation of the Master Roadmap, so that we can realise “the Africa We Want”.

We all agree that the people of this Continent deserve better. The onus is clearly upon us as Leaders, to collectively forge ahead in delivering the long deferred dream of the people of Africa, “the Africa We Want”, as envisaged by the Solemn Declaration. Chairperson, I am confident that we all know that the dream of “the Africa We Want” will remain just a dream as long as the people of Western Sahara have not attained their full independence and self- determination. Botswana wishes to reiterate her unwavering support for the liberation of Western Sahara.

We condemn in the strongest terms the recent attacks on peaceful Saharawi demonstrators in their own country, which has led to the current renewed armed conflict between Western Sahara and Morocco. We can never enjoy real peace and security in Africa when a fellow member of the African Union continues to endure long years of suffering, turmoil and oppression at the behest of another Member State. We will continue to call on the international community to redouble the efforts to right the wrong that continue to torment the peace- loving Saharawi people.

There is no doubt that a conflict- free Africa, anchored on pillars of democracy, good governance, respect for human rights, good neighbourliness and respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will be catalytic in fast- tracking Africa’s integration, economic transformation and the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area. This is so because more resources will be channelled towards development, as opposed to waging wars and mitigating the impact of conflicts on our economies.

I note with appreciation the successes registered so far in the endowment of the Revitalized Peace Fund, which is one of the key vehicles towards realising the Theme of the Year 2020. However, I wish to implore the relevant organs of the Union, particularly the AU Commission and the Peace and Security Council, to prioritise measures to mobilise additional resources aimed at implementing the Master Roadmap. In my view, this will assist in our efforts towards the realisation of our goal of “a conflict- free Africa”.

Mr. Chairperson, as we know, the year 2020 is drawing to its end, together with this year’s theme, “Silencing the Guns by Year 2020”. Since we still believe in the relevance of this theme as a flagship project of Agenda 2063, we believe it will be prudent for us to extend its lifespan beyond 2020, but with a robust monitoring mechanism to ensure full implementation of the Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa.

In concluding, Chairperson, I wish to once again express my commitment, and that of my Government, to do what we can, within our limited resources, to contribute to the efforts towards realising the vision of silencing the guns in Africa.

THIS WAS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 14TH EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE AFRICAN UNION HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT ON “SILENCING THE GUNS”