Africa, China and the United States on Wednesday started tripartite consultation for peace on the African continent as a prelude for the African Union extraordinary summit on maritime security to be held in October in Lome.
The two-day consultation will debate on issues relating to maritime security, blue economy in the Gulf of Guinea, and peace promotion in the Sahel region.
The Lome meeting is summoned by the Togolese ministry of foreign affairs in collaboration with the United Nations Bureau for West Africa and Sahel. It is expected to reach consensus on practical and specific actions relative to the issues at stake.
In his opening speech, Togolese minister of foreign affairs Robert Dussey lamented serious security issues on the African continent.
"Different measures and strategies resorted to at the level of States individually as well as at the level of regional organizations fail to produce the expected results," he said.
"With these dismal situation and mixed results, it is urgently needed that we review our plans and strategies for the fight for peace on the continent."
The consultation was initiated for in-camera evaluation discussions of regional stakeholders' collaboration on peace and security matters.
The United Nations Bureau for West Africa and Sahel's chief and representative of the UN General Secretary Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the Chinese government's Special Representative on African Affairs Zhong Jianhua, and Princeton Lyman, special advisor to the United States Institute for Peace, were attending the consultation.
It also gathers representatives from Togo, as well as from the Economic community of West African states (Ecowas), the Economic community of central African states , Gulf Guinea commission, and the Lake Chad basin commission.
