Mozambique: President sets 5 March as date for signing of state reform agreement
Mozambique: US expects swift and satisfactory conclusion to conflict
6:31 CAT | 18 May 2021
The digital press briefing with U.S. Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, comes ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday entitled, “Peace and Security in Africa: Addressing Root Causes of Conflict While Promoting Post-Pandemic Recovery.” [File photo: Lusa]
The United States hopes for a swift and satisfactory conclusion to the conflict and insecurity in Mozambique, following cooperation with the government and civil society, the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations said on Tuesday.
“We are committed to working with the [Mozambican] Government to do everything possible to protect civilians, prevent future attacks and alleviate suffering. (…) We hope that we will be able to address and come to a satisfactory conclusion very soon,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
The US representative to the UN was responding today to a question from Lusa at a virtual press conference ahead of Wednesday’s UN Security Council meeting on Peace and Security in Africa.
“The US is very concerned about the situation in Mozambique, and we are working very closely with the government of Mozambique, with international organisations as well as civil society organisations on the ground to try to find a solution (…) that will help the government to address the attacks that have taken place,” said the diplomat, who began her term as head of the US mission to the UN at the end of February.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield highlighted international collaboration and cooperation to strengthen and empower the political leadership and society in Mozambique.
Creating capacities, skills, knowledge, tools, opportunities, and sustainable development programmes in the regions affected by the instability were the ways highlighted by the US official responsible for cooperation with Mozambique through the UN and the US representation in the African country.
Thomas-Greenfield said one of the most important steps in resolving the crisis was to “be in contact with communities outside the central government”, mainly with communities on the “front line” of the conflict.
It is essential to ensure that communities “are not isolated” and that they are involved in government action when dealing with terrorist threats, added Linda Thomas-Greenfield, stressing that direct contact with the population is one of the “strengths” of the US.
The US government also tries to highlight and emphasise the importance of women’s participation in resolving conflicts on the continent: “When we look at how to resolve conflicts, we absolutely have to focus on women and girls and the role that women have in peacekeeping, (…) which is extraordinarily important,” said the official, who has a long diplomatic career in Africa, as US ambassador to Liberia (2008 to 2012) and special envoy to Pakistan, Kenya, Gambia and Nigeria.
Thomas-Greenfield said that the period of analysis, identification of the damage and losses suffered on the African continent will be “long and complicated” and “moving forward, there will be threats to Africa”, but the United States will remain a “committed partner” for the continent.
The US State Department said at the beginning of May that humanitarian aid provided to Mozambique this financial year would help 20,000 families with basic necessities and provide US$700,000 (€573,500) to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
According to a statement released on 6 May, US aid in Mozambique is visible via the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with “vital basic necessities”.
The UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday will be devoted to Peace and Security in Africa, with a special focus on the impact of the covid-19 pandemic and root causes of conflict on the continent.
The debate will be punctuated with speeches by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Achim Steiner and a representative of the African Union, in addition to member states.
The meeting is expected to adopt a Council Presidential Statement on the strengthening of recovery mechanisms on the African continent.
The UN Security Council programme does not specify whether Mozambique is on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting.
Source: Lusa
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.