KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - African leaders emphasized the need for collaboration to ensure peace and security across the continent during the 23rd Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit held in Burundi on October 31, 2024.
Kenya's President William Ruto stated, "We need to silence the guns that we (African Union) have always said that we should on our continent," highlighting the detrimental impact of ongoing conflicts on interstate trade and investment.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema reinforced the significance of peace and stability for the region's economic development, urging leaders to focus on the challenges faced by individual countries and the collective group.
Human Rights Watch noted the summit as a critical opportunity for leaders to address conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and other areas, advocating for the protection of civilians.
Congo President Felix Tshisekedi remarked on the necessity of tackling security challenges to achieve prosperity, attributing these issues to negative forces.
At the summit, Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye assumed the chairmanship of COMESA from Hichilema. COMESA is the largest regional economic organization in Africa, consisting of 21 member states.