Chairperson,  

South Africa welcomes the Report of the Peace and Security Council on its activities and the state of peace and security in Africa and commends the efforts of the Peace and Security Council in pursuing lasting peace on the continent as it approaches its 500th Meeting since its establishment a decade ago. 

South Africa remains steadfast in its opposition to unconstitutional changes of government on the continent and would like to caution against what we see as a worrying trend of constitutional amendments aimed at extending the mandates of incumbent Heads of State and Government which has led to a number of tensions on the continent. 

While we applaud the efforts of the African Union in addressing the situation in Burkina Faso, we consider it critical to draw lessons from this. 

We believe, it is also critical to deploy additional efforts in order to improve the African Union’s preventive diplomacy and its capacity to translate early warning information into early action so as to avert crises from escalating. 

We are of the conviction that these crises can be prevented if we demonstrate political will.

We therefore urge adherence to African Union norms and instruments aimed at strengthening good governance and democracy on the continent such as the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance as essential measures towards the realisation of sustainable peace. 

Furthermore, we would like to underscore the need for creating an enabling environment for peace to thrive by supporting economic development in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has faced decades of illegal exploitation of its natural resources. 

South Africa is also a contributing Member to the Intervention Brigade of MONUSCO which has remained unrelenting in neutralising belligerent forces that continue to pose a threat to the country and the region.

Chairperson, 

When conflicts emerge, there is a need for swift action under the leadership of the AU. 

In this regard, we would like to emphasise the need for redoubled efforts at operationalizing the African Standby Force and Its Rapid Deployment Capability. 

In the interim, however, we are encouraged by the progress made in the operationalization of the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises which will form an effective interim measure enabling the continent to act swiftly, thereby limiting dependence on external assistance.

This, Chairperson is the principle we must uphold in our vision of having African solutions to African problems. 

We note the progress in the reduction of conflict on the continent. 

However, our view is that constant attention is required in the countries where interventions have been successful as these countries are at their most vulnerable and have the potential for relapse into conflict. Countries dealing with fragile situations should recognize the fundamental importance of the processes of security sector reform, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration as important basis for lasting peace. 
We should therefore strengthen our support to Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development on the continent by mobilising resources and in kind support from within the continent before looking to others.

Chairperson, 

We acknowledge and commend the continued efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in resolving the crisis in South Sudan. 

We are deeply concerned at the prolonged conflict and the dire humanitarian situation in that country. 

We call on all the parties to implement the agreements they have signed and we deplore the lack of commitment to these agreements.

We are concerned with the escalation of the threat of terrorism on the continent, and especially the ruthless attacks by Boko Haram not only in Nigeria but the neighbouring countries. 

We believe that these groups have been strengthened by the illicit proliferation of arms stemming from unresolved conflicts such as in Libya, where the failure to adhere to the recommendations of African leaders against foreign intervention has shown to have been a costly mistake. 

We welcome the efforts of the International Contact Group on Libya in the search for a solution to the situation in Libya and underscore the importance of an inclusive national political dialogue as national ownership is the key element for continued peace.

Chairperson, 

We would therefore wish to see the African Union assume its central role in resolving crises to avoid repeating our mistakes. In this way, we will be closer to realizing the vision of a continent that is free of violent conflict by 2020.   

I Thank You.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria