Harare (Zimbabwe), September 6, 2024 (SPS) - The Permanent Representative of the Sahrawi Republic to the African Union, Lamine Baali, took part in intensive meetings organized by the African Union in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, from September 2 to 7, 2024. These meetings held to discuss ways to develop policies for implementing the decisions of the extraordinary summit of heads of state and government that took place on May 27, 2022, in Malabo, which addressed efforts and methods to tackle humanitarian disasters on the African continent.
Discussions included how to respond to the increasing humanitarian crises related to climate change and other emergencies in various regions of Africa. The meetings also reviewed the challenges and successes related to the Kampala Convention of 2009, and established an action plan based on the outcomes of the aforementioned Malabo summit.
Participants emphasized the importance of enhancing effective coordination and disaster management among member states and African Union institutions, in addition to protecting relief workers and applying fundamental humanitarian principles such as impartiality and neutrality.
There was also a focus on the significance of implementing humanitarian diplomacy as a new fundamental framework aimed at strengthening African solidarity and reducing disaster risks.
The meeting stressed the necessity for a swift response to the early warning initiative and mitigating the impacts of disasters and crises, calling for the African Union to take the lead in humanitarian efforts within the continent.