Ndayishimiye Warns Persistent Violence Is Undermining Africa’s Development

Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye has warned that persistent violence is weakening farming, education and development across Africa.

Speaking at the Alamein Africa Forum in Egypt, Ndayishimiye told heads of state and business leaders from across the continent that insecurity was preventing communities and institutions from pursuing essential activities.

“Amid insecurity, no farmer goes to the fields anymore. No child goes to school anymore. No institution plans development for its country,” he said.

Ndayishimiye referred to the situations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan as an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe”, while expressing concern that violence continues to affect the continent.

Call for responsible development

The forum also heard a call from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for African states to respect one another’s rights while pursuing development and using their natural resources.

Al-Sisi said every state has the right to develop and benefit from its resources, but added that this right should be exercised responsibly and without causing harm to other countries.

“Our common interests are greater than our differences,” he said.

Egypt has been involved in a long-running dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Cairo regards the project as a threat to its share of Nile waters.

Forum to become biennial

The Alamein Africa Forum focuses on infrastructure, trade, agriculture, healthcare, mining, technology and renewable energy. It was attended by political and business leaders from across Africa.

The forum is set to become a biennial event under an African Union mandate. Details of the future schedule and the mandate were not provided.

The leaders’ remarks placed security, development and the responsible use of natural resources at the centre of discussions at the gathering.