Addis Ababa, 27 March 2020: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, calls on all warring parties, where ever they may be in Africa and elsewhere, to immediately stop fighting and engage in lasting ceasefire to give a chance to peacemaking efforts. The outbreak of the Corona virus pandemic, which is killing thousands and weakening economies across the globe, is a call on all humanity to do its utmost to defeat this pandemic.

He insists that, in this period of the global tragedy brought by the corona virus, it is a moral and humanitarian obligation for all warring parties, where ever they may be in Africa, to immediately stop fighting to facilitate the measures being taken by Member States and other actors to combat and defeat the corona virus pandemic. The success of these measures will considerably contribute to advancing peace, governance and development in Africa.

The Chairperson recalls that in their Solemn Declaration of 25 May 2013, on the occasion of the OAU/AU 50^th Anniversary held in Addis Ababa, the Leaders committed to take the necessary steps, including in particular addressing root causes of conflicts, to silence the guns and wars in Africa by 2020. In this context, the Chairperson reminds all concerned that Africa has achieved important milestones towards realizing the objective set by the Leaders, as evidenced by the ongoing implementation of the AU theme of this year 2020 - Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development, in line with the vision in AU Agenda 2063 and 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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