His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, emphasized that it is in the international community’s collective interest to see success for the African Union’s ‘Silencing the Guns’ agenda during a United Nations Security Council meeting which focused on the impact of development policies on the agenda’s implementation. 

“Over the past years, this Council has discussed the ‘Silencing the Guns’ agenda several times. There is clearly a need to take stock of where the agenda is today,” said HE Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan. “The idea that turmoil in one region of the world will not spread to another is an illusion. Not only is it in our collective interest to see the success of this initiative, but it is also our moral imperative to enable peace under international law in any way that we can.” 

His Excellency noted that the international community should fully leverage the African continent’s toolkit of conflict resolution and peacebuilding practices, address the root causes of conflict, and invest in sustainable development and peacebuilding to mitigate complex threats before they occur. 

Previously, on 28 March, HE Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan had also emphasized the need to support African-led efforts in the fight against terrorism and extremism on the continent. His Excellency was attending a UN Security Council briefing on countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism by strengthening cooperation between the UN and regional organizations and mechanisms. 

“Terrorism is a complex, and above all, a context-specific phenomenon, and thus the UAE believes that regional counter-terrorism initiatives play an integral part in supporting Member States in combatting this scourge,” he said. “It is the responsibility of the Security Council to maintain international peace and security, though it must do more to adequately support African-led efforts in the fight against terrorism.” 

In his statement, His Excellency noted the need to strengthen regional counter-terrorism initiatives in Africa, address the root causes of terrorism and extremism, and follow African stakeholders’ lead. 

During his visit to New York City, HE Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan met with government ministers and officials including His Excellency Filipe Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique and His Excellency Dr. Vincent Biruta, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda. His Excellency also met with Her Excellency Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, Vice President of the Republic of Gabon.  

His Excellency also met with several of his counterparts who handle African issues for their respective governments, including Ambassador Liu Yuxi, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs, and Dr. Annette Weber, European Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa.