19th Meeting of the COMESA Committee of Ministers of Foreign Affairs has been held in Bujumbura, Burundi, bringing the ministers to discuss critical issues on peace and security across the 21-member trade bloc.
Ethiopian delegation led by the country’s Permanent Representative of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Ambassador Hirut Zemen, attended the conference.
According to COMESA, “while stability has been achieved in many areas, certain parts of the region continue to face challenges.” And member states were urged to strengthen collaborative efforts to address ongoing conflicts and enhance regional peace.
The bloc’s new Chairperson and Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Albert Shingiro, reaffirmed Burundi’s commitment to advancing peace and security to support deeper regional integration.
COMESA’s employment of multiple initiatives and programs were mentioned by COMESA Secretary-General, Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, as successful tools to regional stability over the past year.