State Secretary Sofiane Chaib Inaugurates the 10th Edition of "Africa Amnesty Month" in Algeria

The Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in charge of the National Community Abroad, M. Sofiane Chaib, inaugurated today the proceedings of the 10th edition of "Africa Amnesty Month," hosted by Algeria for the first time in the North African region, under the theme: "Advancing the Silencing the Guns Initiative and Consolidating Sustainable Peace Through the Exchange of Best Practices in Small Arms and Light Weapons Control and Demining Actions." The event was attended by the delegation of the African Union (African Union) Peace and Security Council and members of the African diplomatic corps accredited in our country.

In his opening address, the Secretary of State emphasized that Algeria's hosting of this edition reflects its unwavering commitment to the values of peace, reconciliation, and African solidarity, as well as its support for continental efforts aimed at realizing the objective of "Silencing the Guns" in Africa.

The Secretary of State stressed that the escalation of conflicts, humanitarian crises, the spread of terrorism, organized crime, and illicit arms trafficking necessitate the reinforcement of collective African action and the addressing of root causes of conflicts, thereby translating political commitments into tangible ground realities. He reiterated Algeria's readiness to share its expertise and national experience, particularly in demining and combating the remnants of the colonial era, while underscoring the importance of strengthening African Union mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution within the framework of the principle of "African solutions to African problems," free from foreign interventions that exacerbate crises and arm conflicting parties.

Furthermore, Mr. Chaib highlighted the necessity of adopting an integrated African approach to counter the illicit proliferation of small arms, light weapons, and landmines, combining the fight against financing networks and illicit trafficking with capacity building, the engagement of youth, women, and civil society, and raising awareness about the hazards these phenomena pose to peace and development. In this context, he called upon African Union member states to observe "Africa Amnesty Month" through national initiatives and awareness campaigns, reaffirming Algeria's commitment to continuing its contribution to efforts aimed at silencing the guns in Africa by 2030 and fulfilling the aspirations of Agenda 2063 of the African Union toward a secure, stable, and prosperous continent.