Rabat: Several prominent African figures emphasized, on Thursday at the House of Representatives, the importance of mediation for sustainable stability and security in Africa, as well as for the peaceful resolution of conflicts across the continent.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the thematic session titled “Mediation and Coexistence: Building a Conflict-Resilient Africa” was part of the 2nd Forum of Chairpersons of Foreign Affairs Committees of African Parliaments. The forum, themed ‘Towards Establishing Lasting Foundations for Stability and Security in Africa,’ showcased discussions on promoting development, reconciliation, human rights, and strengthening the values of justice and fairness.

Mohamed Loulichki, a member of the Royal Academy and former ambassador, described mediation as a preferred mechanism for peaceful conflict resolution. He noted that mediation provides all parties with a flexible and impartial decision-making framework and encourages states to resort to it voluntarily.

Loulichki emphasized the necessity for mediators to be experienced and culturally knowledgeable in order to reconcile conflicting viewpoints and resolve disputes without resorting to binding judicial decisions.

Professor El Moussaoui El Ajlaoui, a researcher at the Center for African and Middle Eastern Studies, discussed the role of African parliaments in crisis management. He highlighted the importance of security, peace, and development as inseparable pillars essential for building robust security policies.

El Ajlaoui called on African parliaments to contribute to security policies addressing challenges such as terrorism, extremism, separatist movements, transnational crime, and human rights issues.

Idi Gado Boubacar, Secretary-General of the African Parliamentary Union (APU), underscored the need for an integrated approach combining mediation, education, economic development, and social justice to foster pluralistic, inclusive, and peaceful societies. He emphasized mediation’s pivotal role in achieving peace and resilience against conflicts.

Boubacar also highlighted the importance of regional and international cooperation to support peace efforts in Africa, suggesting that such cooperation could apply diplomatic pressure on conflicting parties to engage in negotiations.