Tanzania which is the sixth contributor of military and peacekeepers in Africa, has called for an end to attacks on soldiers engaged in peace missions in various parts of the world.
President Jakaya Kikwete
Addressing the UN National Assembly here on Friday, President Jakaya Kikwete called on the UN Security Council whose primary role is the maintenance of international peace and security to be in the forefront in condemning such acts in good time.
The country which since 2007 has become proactive in contributing troops to the UN peacekeeping operations has over 2,500 peacekeepers in Lebanon, Darfur and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Globally it is the 12th contributor of peacekeepers.
President Kikwete said Tanzania was partaking that noble endeavour as members of the UN with the duty of advancing and upholding the ideals of the esteemed organisation. “We are satisfied that our contribution, though modest, is having a broader impact to those who have experienced the horrors of conflicts,” he said.
He, however, said it was disturbing that armed groups and peace spoilers were increasingly attacking the servants of peace. Tanzania has lost seven soldiers in Darfur, Sudan under UNAMID and two in DRC under MONUSCO.
“These are our national heroes whose sacrifices are not in vain,” said the president, adding that their death was a grim reminder of the dangers facing peacekeepers around the world.
“We must unreservedly condemn all these attacks as there is no cause or justification for such barbaric attack which constitute a crime under international law,” he added.
Meanwhile, the president for yet another time added sound to Africa’s demand for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The continent has the largest membership of the UN.
Mr Kikwete said the reform that Africa demands was long overdue and the world’s failure to respond to that reality created skepticism on the common resolve to strengthen an institution that was meant to serve nations and people.
“While we welcome discussions on the reform of the ECOSOC, Africa will not relent in demanding reform of the Security Council so that the continent has a permanent voice,” said the president. He also expressed concern over the way the International Criminal Court (ICC) handles Africa’s affairs.
He said the court was perceived as irresponsive to legitimate concerns of African people and continued to ignore repeated requests and appeals by the African Union (AU).
“It was sad to note that legitimate requests regarding the timing of the trials of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto, went unanswered,” he said, adding that such an attitude had become a major handicap and failed to reconcile the court’s secondary and complementary role in fighting impunity.
He further called for an end, on humanitarian grounds, to unilateral economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba which has lasted for more than 50 years and asked the UN to take bold actions to give the people of Sahrawi the opportunity to decide on their fate.
“It is incomprehensible why the Security Council which has been able to handle bigger security challenges can not decide on the matter for nearly 40 years,” said the president.
By TUMA ABDALAH, Tanzania Daily News
