CAIRO, Nov 28 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty stressed Egypt's firm commitment to promoting peace, security and development in Africa.

Abdelatty's remarks came during his participation in the Ministerial Meeting of the African Union's Peace and Security Council that was held virtually on Thursday.

The foreign minister said the African continent faces unprecedented challenges that hinder its ability to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063, underlining the importance of abiding by the African Union's founding principles, including the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and non-interference in their internal affairs.

The top Egyptian diplomat urged for enhancing the effectiveness of the Peace and Security Council's tools to address security challenges in Africa amid the increasing suspensions of member states within the African Union.

He stated that imposing sanctions may not always contribute to resolving crises, but may sometimes lead to exacerbating violence and increasing the suffering of peoples.

Abdelatty called for adopting more positive strategies based on strengthening national institutions and supporting African states during transitional periods.

He also emphasized the need to bolster the African Union's capacity to handle crises and advance post-conflict peacebuilding for bringing about sustainable stability.

The foreign minister asserted the significance of restructuring the Peace and Security Council to ensure the fair representation of the North Africa, given the historical contribution of this region to achieving the independence of the African continent.

Abdelatty expressed hope the Peace and Security Council's protocol be amended for granting the North Africa region an additional seat. (MENA)

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