Kampala, July 27, 2010 (NAN) African countries with a history of political conflicts and violence should take a cue from Nigeria by strengthening their democratic structures.
Salim Ahmed Salim, Chairman of the AU Panel of Wise, gave the advice on Tuesday while submitting a report on how best to prevent, manage and resolve crises on the continent.
He explained that the strong democratic structure put in place by Nigeria had prevented political crisis in the country from aggravating, noting that its judiciary had lived up to expectation.
Salim urged African leaders to invest in preventive and early-warning mechanisms in countries with a history of electoral violence and conflicts.
According to him, the AU is determined to deal once and for all, with the scourge of conflicts and violence on the continent.
He said that the recommendations of the panel were grouped under six main clusters aimed at strengthening the role of the AU in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts.
According to him, the AU in Tripoli in August, 2009, resolved to eliminate conflicts in Africa and promote sustainable peace.
He pointed out that the operation of the AU Peace and Security Council Architecture (APSA) as articulated in the Protocol relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council, was on course.
Salim stressed the need for African leaders to re-commit themselves to accelerating the process of putting APSA into full operation.
According to him, an effort by member states to address the root causes of conflicts in a holistic and systematic manner will go a long way to eliminate conflicts on the continent.
Salim urged AU to implement all existing instruments in the areas of human rights, the rule of law, democracy, elections and good governance, disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation and good neighbourliness.
He said the report observed that electoral conflicts and political violence signalled “weaknesses in the governance of elections, the rule of orderly political competition and lack of impartial judiciaries to adjudicate electoral disputes''.
He said that the five-member panel worked together with International Peace Institute, before coming out with the report.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Heads of State attending the ongoing 15th Ordinary Summit of the AU, are expected to ratify the recommendations of the report. (NAN)
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