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2011<br />
2011 Washington DC<br />
Africa: 53 Countries, One Union<br />
The New Challenges<br />
Opening Remarks<br />
Romano Prodi<br />
Washington, 15 June 2011<br />
Abstract<br />
It is still a time of crisis for Africa. Unlike the past, however, this time of instability<br />
and conflicts is affecting mainly the Northern part of the Continent, an area that<br />
we used to consider stable and relatively peaceful. The call for more democratic<br />
institutions and for a fairer economic growth has started the so-called “Arab Spring”.<br />
Recent events in Northern Africa have shown something that we know very well: only<br />
democratic institutions can ensure long-term political stability.<br />
As the previous years showed, the African Union, with the contribution of the other<br />
Regional Economic Organizations, is an important tool for ensuring peace and security<br />
in the African context. In order to create a stable and secure environment at the national,<br />
regional, and continental levels, the role of these institutions in conflict prevention,<br />
active conflict management and conflict resolution is and will remain central. In<br />
spite of their limits and their weakness there is no alternative. Their potential strength<br />
is a landmark for the future of Africa. The objective is to exploit African organizations’<br />
strengths in terms of their contribution to conflict prevention, mediation, and, in the<br />
case of the African Union of its capacity to act as the first response to larger-scale<br />
United Nations missions. Indeed the complexity and the necessities of peace operations<br />
imply that no single organization is capable by itself of confronting the numerous challenges<br />
that are emerging.<br />
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