Addis Ababa: National Defense Minister Chairs STCDSS Meeting

On 6 June, at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Mr. Hananna Ould Sidi, the Minister of National Defense, chaired the 16th meeting of the Specialized Technical Committee on Defense, Safety, and Security (STCDSS).

The meeting considered a report on the state of peace and security on the African continent and the report of the 19th meeting of the African Chiefs of Staff and Heads of Safety and Security Services.

In his opening speech, the minister stressed the need to raise levels of coordination and cooperation and redouble efforts to achieve a secure, stable, and prosperous Africa.

He recalled that His Excellency Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, the President of the Republic and Chairman of the African Union, had repeatedly highlighted the organic link between development, prosperity, peace, and security, which requires the development of a global and integrated strategy that takes into account the different security, economic, social, and intellectual dimensions linked to the phenomenon of terrorism.

He added that His Excellency placed peace and security at the top of the priorities of the road map of the presidency of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania of the African Union, convinced that there is no challenge facing the continent that cannot be overcome by our ability to achieve peace and security across the continent.