I appreciate you calling this briefing, Mr. President. And I want to thank all of our briefers for their insightful comments. I’ll focus on three things.
First, as said by our Kenyan colleague, Africa is a continent with enormous potential.
However, the United Kingdom shares the grave concerns voiced by others over the magnitude of difficulties that many African nations are now confronting.
Consolidating advancements has become more difficult as a result of COVID-19.
In many nations, the effects of climate change and escalating humanitarian demands have been a problem.
The most recent sad instances were the drought in the Horn of Africa and the floods in South Sudan.
Additionally, the unlawful Russian invasion of Ukraine has had a severe economic impact on the continent, jeopardising the hard-won peace and development benefits.
Second, the UK is still committed to doing its share to help African nations reach their full potential.
We are collaborating with governments and the civil society via our new International Development Strategy to assist partners in moving toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
This involves enhancing the institutions’ ability to serve the interests of their constituents.
The UK continues to be a steadfast advocate for initiatives to foster peace and resolve disputes throughout the continent.
We are serious about our duties in this Council. With the AU, we collaborate closely on projects like the redesign of the AU Transition Mission in Somalia.
Through the British Peace Support Team in Africa, we trained more than 3,000 African peacekeepers over the most recent fiscal year.
The second UK-Ghana Security Dialogue was held in July, and at that meeting, we decided to support regional strategies for reducing the rising risks of instability in coastal West African governments.
With nearly $6 million donated to the Elsie Initiative Fund since 2019, the UK is the second-largest contributor, helping to boost the number of women in uniform who take part in UN peace operations.
There are no short cuts, third. If significant portions of a people are marginalised or human rights are violated, development achievements and a precarious peace will be lost.
We need an international cooperation framework that gives openness and inclusiveness a high priority.
If peacebuilding and development are to be long-lasting, they must be people-centered.
And as this Council has made clear, creating a lasting peace depends on the meaningful engagement of women in peace processes.
President, let me conclude by saying that the UK is still firmly committed to promoting stability and growth in Africa.
In order to achieve peace and development in Africa, we look forward to this Council’s sustained engagement with the UN Peacebuilding Commission, the larger UN membership, and regional organisations.
I’m grateful.