Key Resolutions at the First China-Horn of Africa Peace, Good Governance and Development Conference

Representatives from the Respective countries attended the conference

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: The First China-Horn of Africa Peace, Good Governance and Development Conference was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the 20th and 21st of June 2022.

Representatives from included ; China (represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa), Ethiopia (represented by the State Minister for Political and Economic affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Djibouti (represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation), Kenya (represented by its Ambassador to Ethiopia), Somalia (represented by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation), South Sudan (represented by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation), Sudan (represented by Under Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and Uganda (represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs/ Regional Affairs).

The participants conducted in-depth discussions on regional peace, development and governance in an atmosphere of unity, candor, pragmatism, and mutual respect. At the conclusion of the conference, the following issues were discussed:

The Horn of Africa is the common home for people in the region and realizing regional peace, stability, development and prosperity serves the fundamental interests of all countries and meets the shared aspirations of all peoples in the region. Noting the challenges confronting regional peace and security, the participants uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, work together to maintain peace and security in the region, and build a Horn of Africa where the guns are silenced for sustainable peace.

The Parties are ready to step up high level engagements and exchanges at all levels to enhance mutual political trust and keep improving relations among the countries in the region. The Parties are willing to demonstrate political will, take confidence building measures, manage differences and disputes between countries of the region, and pursue peaceful settlement through dialogue and negotiation in an effort to ease the security situation in countries of the region.

The region notes that the youth and in particular the women and girls are bearing the brunt of the current crises in the region due to gender inequalities which hinder their participation in decision making mechanisms and humanitarian responses, and therefore calls for their inclusion.

Well knowing that democracy contributes immensely towards national peace, stability, and development, the parties agreed to advocate for democracy and inclusive participation in politics by all nationals of countries in the region regardless of their gender, tribe or political affiliation.

The Parties reaffirm respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, commitment to non-interference in the other’s internal affairs, respect for countries’ independent choice of development path, values and social systems. The Parties remain committed to peaceful resolution of regional problems independently, and while supporting multilateralism, oppose unilateral sanctions as well as external interference in the internal affairs of the countries of the region.

The Parties uphold a coordinated approach to traditional and non-traditional security such as cyber security, terrorism, illegal arms and human trafficking etc. and commit to greater cooperation in counter terrorism in the region, and agree to jointly address extreme weather and natural disasters such as drought, flooding and locust infestation and safeguard food security of the region.

Realizing that security, development and good governance challenges require a holistic approach, the parties stand to sustain regional integration by enhancing connectivity, strengthen cooperation in areas such as agriculture, trade, manufacturing, industry and infrastructure in order to build industrial and economic belts, create more jobs, drive growth and enhance self-driven development capacities.

The Parties also agree to promote exchanges and experience-sharing on good governance to increase the synergy of the development policies of the countries of the region, explore ways to settle disputes in an effort to foster a development environment for solidarity, stability and harmony.

The countries of the region commend China for initiating the outlook on the Horn of Africa Peace, Good governance and Development Conference, and commit to actively participate in implementing the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. The region expresses its gratitude to China for providing COVID-19 vaccines, anti-COVID supplies, humanitarian assistance, locust control products and other assistance to the countries of the region.

China reaffirms its readiness to align the Belt and Road Initiative and the implementation of the outcomes of FOCAC meetings with the development policies of the countries of the region, deepen cooperation in areas such as health, illegal migration, agricultural development for poverty reduction, trade, investment, infrastructure, green development and support efforts for building a development framework featuring “Two Axes plus two Coasts” such as the Addis Ababa- Djibouti and Mombasa-Nairobi development corridors and any other similar projects that enable us to achieve regional integration.

The Parties call on the international community to enhance partnership with the Horn of Africa to collaborate on the needs identified by the countries of the region for development assistance, increase accessibility and diversity of development financing and make greater contribution to Africa’s independent and sustainable development.

The parties call on the international community to work together towards the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.