Panafrican News Agency

Regional peace, security vital for successful regional integration, says Mauritian Minister

Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – The Mauritian Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Alan Ganoo, has said that the maintenance of regional peace and security are prerequisites to sustainable socio-economic development and successful regional integration.

He was speaking on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of a three-day National Consultative Workshop on the COMESA Conflict Early Warning System (COMWARN) Structural Vulnerability Assessment (SVA).

Mr. Ganoo said the COMWARN SVA model, developed by the COMESA, is a comprehensive conflict early warning and analysis system which aims at identifying the conditions, processes and actors responsible for the eruption and escalation of violent conflicts in the African region.

Mr. Ganoo underlined the important role of the region in maintaining continental peace and security.

He reiterated Government’s commitment in working closely with COMESA and the AU so as to explore the set of structural vulnerability factors that are inherent to Mauritius as a Small Island Developing State and ensure the successful use of the COMWARN SVA methodology.

The Minister also spoke about maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean which is high on the Government's agenda, saying that Mauritius is playing and will continue to play a prominent role in enhancing maritime domain awareness in the region. 

The COMESA representative, Dr Oita Etyang, stated that the National Consultative Workshop is pertinent, in that it is providing an opportunity to COMESA and the AU to disseminate Mauritius’ report on structural vulnerabilities which is a key output of the Early Warning System. 

“The system is very important as it will help in identifying vulnerabilities and challenges in the socio-economic, governance, environment and education sectors, amongst others, that will allow the elaboration of robust plans and policies to address such vulnerabilities in advance,” Dr. Etyang said.

Mauritius will be the sixth country to use the COMWARN SVA and in the COMESA region after Kenya, Uganda, Madagascar, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

-0- PANA NA/MA 7July2022