Persistent violence and insecurity across Africa are disrupting agriculture, education and development, Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye has warned.
Ndayishimiye made the remarks at the Alamein Africa Forum in Egypt, which brought together African heads of state, business leaders and other stakeholders to discuss the continent’s economic development.
The Burundian president said insecurity was preventing farmers from working their fields, keeping children out of school and making it difficult for governments and institutions to plan long-term development.
“Amid insecurity, no farmer goes to the fields anymore. No child goes to school anymore. No institution plans development for its country,” Ndayishimiye said.
“We deplore that violence persists on our continent. In DRC, in Sudan, it is an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.”
The summit also addressed the need for African countries to manage their relations and natural resources in ways that protect shared interests.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi urged African states to respect one another’s rights, amid his country’s longstanding dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Cairo has raised concerns that the dam could affect Egypt’s share of Nile waters, while Ethiopia maintains that the project is important for its economic development and electricity generation.
“There is no doubt that every state has the right to development and to benefit from its natural resources,” Sisi told the summit.
“However, at the same time, this right must be exercised in a responsible manner that does not cause harm to other states. Our common interests are greater than our differences.”
The Alamein Africa Forum is set to become a biennial event under an African Union mandate.
Its agenda will focus on key areas of Africa’s development, including infrastructure, trade, agriculture, healthcare, mining, technology and renewable energy.
