admin
of security not only to enhance national development but to deal with threats against their sovereignty.
This was said by Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security who arrived in the country yesterday to attend the on-going Conference of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA).
Ambassador Ramtane is standing in for the AU Commission chairperson Dr Nkosazana-Dhlamini Zuma at the conference that is expected to be opened by the Head of State and Government and Commander in Chief of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces President Mugabe today.
“It is important that African countries develop their cooperation within the framework of CISSA,” he said.
“Co-operation and partnership is key in not only developing Africa, but in dealing with the new threats that come and threaten African’s sovereignty. I hope that the conference will open new horizons in Africa’s intelligence services,” he said.
Ambassador Lamamra said the theme of the conference, ‘The Nexus Between Africa’s Natural Resources, Development and Security” was of great importance since natural resources were at the centre of most of the continent’s resources.
“Since independence of our nations, Africa has been through a variety of conflicts but when you look at the conflicts you will realise that natural resources are at the centre be it local actors or even from outsiders who will be motivated to control the resources,” he said.
He said he hoped the conference would come up with recommendations that would enhance Africa’s integration agenda.
The conference kicked off on May 1 and will run until Wednesday this week.
CISSA was formed in April 2004 to promote security-related policies and programmes that encourage peace, stability and development on the continent.
The need for greater co-operation in intelligence became evident in the wake of Zimbabwe’s capture of a plane – load of mercenaries of various nationalities who were on their way to stage a coup in Equatorial Guinea on March 7, 2001.
This situation provoked stakeholders in the intelligence services in Africa to rethink.
CISSA was subsequently formed in Abuja, Nigeria on August 26, 2004, bringing together intelligence and security services from 49 AU member states.
Its aims and objectives include assisting the AU and specifically the Peace and Security Commission to effectively deal with security challenges confronting the continent.
Online Reporter