It's possible to fight Africa's common challenges, Somalia say in AU conference

ADDIS ABABA - Africa can unite and effectively fight common challenges affecting the continent, Somalia has said, amid ongoing challenges ranging from war to diseases within the region, which have crippled many governments.

The State Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Balal Mohamed Osman, delivered two separate interventions at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, said there is a need for Africa to leverage on strengths in the fight against challenges.

The meeting which was held on Thursday and Friday in Ethiopia was the first of its kind since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout this time, most meetings have been held on zoom and other digital platforms.

Balal Osman, a close ally of outgoing President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, maintained that Africa can overcome a myriad of challenges to be one of the most progressive economies across the world, adding that democratization of institutions is key towards development in the region.

He urged for popular solidarity and awareness of common humanity to combat infectious epidemics, including COVID19, malaria, tuberculosis, Ebola, and HIV. These are some of the challenges that have traditionally affected the continent.

In this regard, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation called for investing in Somalia to significantly reduce food insecurity and malnutrition and enhance local agricultural production instead of importing unnecessary things from abroad, state media reported.

Further, he noted that the challenges must be overcome with cooperation and partnership so that the country becomes an international food basket and developed in the fields of Industry, agriculture, and health.

Somalia has been grappled with leadership challenges, Al-Shabaab war, inter-clan animosity, drought among others, making it difficult to push for stability. For over three decades, the country has literally struggled to have a stable government.

Currently, the country is facing severe drought in parts of Jubaland, with the southern Federal state calling for help from the international community. By December this year, the country is expected to hold presidential elections, which have been delayed for several months.

GAROWE ONLINE