Insecurity a top issue as African leaders meet in Ethiopia

African leaders are meeting on February 5 at a summit that is expected to discuss the continent’s most pressing challenges, including a new wave of coups in West Africa and a slow response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in his opening remarks called for cooperation among African nations in demanding two permanent seats on the UN Security Council. “We should collectively insist that Africa’s reasonable request for no less than two permanent seats and five non-permanent seats in the UN Security Council be adopted.” Speaking via video link, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said cooperation between the the UN and the African Union “is stronger than ever.” Mr. Guterres noted that “injustice is deeply embedded in global systems,” with Africans “paying the heaviest price.” “The unethical inequalities that suffocate Africa fuel armed conflict, political, economic, ethnic and social tensions, human rights abuses, violence against women, terrorism, military coups and a sentiment of impunity,” he said. “The institutions must be able to tackle these problems, as well as climate change-related security threats.” Human Rights Watch urged President Macky Sall of Senegal to focus on civilian protection, justice and accountability as he takes up the Presidency of the African Union. “Despite the challenges, Mr. Sall has an opportunity to demonstrate the AU’s leadership and commitment to its founding principles by taking bold, uncompromising stances against state- The African Union summit should prioritise addressing the rampant abuses occurring in the conflict in Ethiopia between fighters loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Ethiopian federal government and its allies, including Eritrea, the rights group said.