On invitation, Borno state governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum is currently in Egypt where he addressed participants at the third edition of Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development which held, Tuesday, in Cairo.
The Aswan Forum was launched in February 2019 by the Egyptian government in its capacity as the Chairman of the African Union (AU) and Champion of Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) in Africa.
The forum which holds annually in Egypt is a high-level multi-stakeholder platform that brings heads of states, leaders from national governments, international and regional organisations, financial institutions, private sector and civil society, together with visionaries, scholars and prominent experts for a context-specific, action-oriented and forward-looking discussion on the opportunities as well as the threats and challenges facing the (African) continent” and identifying solutions to African problems.
This year’s (2022) forum has the theme: “Africa in an Era of Cascading Risks and Climate Vulnerability: Pathways for a Peaceful, Resilient, and Sustainable Continent.”
The forum was attended by participants from African countries and international development partners from other parts of the world.
United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and the President of Egypt, Abdu Fattah El-Sisi participated virtually.
The forum discussed a number of Africa’s priorities, including enhancing cooperation to combat terrorism, overcoming the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, achieving food security, and advancing post-conflict reconstruction and development efforts.
In his presentation, titled “Pathways for a peaceful, resilient and sustainable Borno State and environs,” Professor Zulum discussed Borno’s experiences in over 12 years of battling with insurgency highlighting impact of the crisis, responses and ongoing rebuilding efforts as well as prospects for peace recovery.
Zulum, amongst other things, highlighted issues related to effective integrated model in response to a wave of defection by terrorists, reinforcing peace-building and development in Borno’s 10 points agenda, balancing between peace and justice and ensuring appropriate linkages between the federal based rehabilitation efforts and the state-led rehabilitation, reconciliation and reintegration currently taking place.
