Roundup: Dakar hosts meeting on security in Africa

A series of meetings to discuss peace and security issues in Africa have been held since Monday in Dakar, the Senegalese capital.

The Dakar meeting is the third summit of army chiefs from 40 African countries, under the initiative of the U.S. and the Action Plan Against Terrorism (PACT) funded by France.

This third summit of African army chiefs is meant to contribute to peace and stability on the African continent, the organizers said.

Senegal's Armed Forces Minister Augustin Tine said the initiative is being held at a time when the African continent continues to fight against all manner of cross-border threats that pose real challenges to the survival of the state and inhibit development.

Tine said it was necessary to reinforce cooperation among African armies to effectively deal with insecurity which slows down development efforts.

"This summit demonstrates the willingness to seek for internal solutions that will prepare our forces to handle more complex situations. The urgency and hope placed on our armies does not leave us with any other choice other than to cooperate," the Senegalese minister said.

U.S. ambassador to Senegal James Peter Zumwalt noted that "it was difficult to attract investments, complete infrastructure projects and grow business in a conflict environment."

"I hope that our military cooperation will reinforce your capacities to manage security challenges in Africa so that we can all enjoy the benefits of a peaceful, stable and prosperous region, " the U.S. diplomat concluded.

The French ambassador to Senegal Jean Felix-Pagano equally pointed out the need to jointly fight against insecurity, especially terrorism.

"We have been condemned to work together and reinforce the tradition of friendship among our countries," he said.

Security analysts have observed that there has been rising levels of insecurity in Africa due to porous borders, illegal movement of weapons and increased cases of drug trafficking. Endi