‘Time for Africa to solve own problems’

CAPE TOWN — South Africa and Congo-Brazzaville have called upon African leaders to unite in seeking solutions to the problems currently besetting the continent. The call comes as 40 African leaders are set to meet in France this week for a French-led summit on improving security on African soil.

According to the SABC President Jacob Zuma, who met with his counterpart Denis Sassou-Nguesso in Pretoria over the weekend, said time had come for Africa to work out solutions for its own problems and desist from waiting for other people to “tell us what to do”.

According to AFP, the summit in France is aimed at helping Africa tackle its security problems on its own with less and less Western backing from former colonial masters.

The summit comes against the backdrop of French plans to send troops to the Central African Republic which is faced with a worsening security situation.

Meanwhile, a pan-African approach to catalyse urban renewal will be the focus of an upcoming conference to be held on December 4 to 6 in Nairobi, senior officials of the UN Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) said yesterday.

The New Urban Agenda for Africa conference will bring together 100 delegates from 40 African countries to discuss home grown solutions to urbanisation challenges including crime, pollution, traffic congestion and slums.

“Strengthening partnerships between state and non-state actors in the pursuit of a new urban agenda for Africa is an imperative. This is an opportune moment for Africa to reflect on the impact of urbanisation to sustainable development,” Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Aisa Kacyira Kirabo said in Nairobi yesterday.

UN-Habitat will host the three-day conference on strengthening partnerships for a new urban agenda in Africa.

Participants drawn from government, civil society, academia and the private sector will attend the conference to discuss imperatives for sustainable urbanization in Africa.

The UN housing agency has fostered dialogue to enable African countries chart a new roadmap for urban renewal. — News24/Xinhua.