CAIRO - Africa governments have been implored to show greater commitment to peacekeeping efforts by relentlessly establishing strong institutions to support continentally-led approaches aimed at conflict prevention. This is the view of Ambassador Ahmed Abdel-Latif, director general of the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA). Addressing African editors in the heart of Cairo this week, Abdel-Latif bemoaned the fact the continent was still beset with the most armed conflicts, while the proliferation of terrorist activities continue unabated. 

“As representatives of the media, you have a very important role to play, including being the voice of peace and help us to contribute to conflict prevention efforts,” said Abdel-Latif. 

Unresolved armed conflicts on the continent continue to undermine peace and stability in Africa. Libya, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, northern Mozambique, Ethiopia and Cameroon’s north-west and south-west regions are some of the conflict hotbeds on the continent at the moment. Abdel-Latif believes the continent itself has what it takes to play a meaningful role in preventing conflict and strengthening peacekeeping efforts. 

“Africa has enough resources and capacity as well as the potential to finding lasting solutions to its problems,”  he added. The CCCPA was established in 1994 by the Egyptian ministry of foreign affairs. The agency considers itself independent and is tasked with offering training, capacity building and research in the areas of peace and security. The CCCPA is also the secretariat of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres (IAPTC). The Cairo centre is also responsible for organizing the annual Aswan Forum, which brings together heads of state and governments and civil society with the focal aim of unpacking and addressing challenges threatening peace and stability on the
 continent.