Speaking at the 20th Assembly of the African Union (AU), Vice-President Danny Faure has once again urged all African nations to strengthen the efforts to bring peace in Somalia and end the scourge of piracy.

Leading the Seychelles delegation to the Summit, he has called on the AU to continue supporting the Amisom (African Union Mission in Somalia) peacekeeping effort and also consider establishing a maritime component to Amisom.

He also expressed appreciation and support for the efforts being made by the new Somali government to improve the security situation there.

"We also salute the efforts of Somalia itself to bring about stability in Mogadishu and beyond.  The courage of the leadership in Somalia in rejecting extremism and criminality is a key part of the long term solution. Seychelles stands in solidarity with you, and we stand ready to work with you within our Union and beyond to build a new economy and a new future for Somalia".

The Vice-President also warmly welcomed the decision by Mauritius to prosecute 12 pirates recently arrested in the Indian Ocean.

"We salute the decision of the Republic of Mauritius to prosecute 12 pirates arrested in the Indian Ocean.  This represents a huge step forward in improving 'burden sharing' in relation to the fight against piracy and is further testament that Indian Ocean and African states will not tolerate impunity against criminal acts in our ocean."

The continued efforts to improve the perspectives for stability and development were one of the core subjects under debate at the 20th Assembly. 

Vice-President Danny Faure and his delegation also took the opportunity to greet the new Somali leadership including President Hassan Sheik Mohamoud and Foreign Minister Fawzia Adam.

The Seychelles delegation also includes the Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Paul Adam and Seychelles Permanent Representative to the African Union, Ambassador Joseph Nourrice.

forrás: www.nation.sc