By Eugene Kwibuka
Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation has urged the
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to invest more energy in the
prevention of conflicts for better protection of civilians living in
conflict-torn areas.
Rwanda’s Foreign minister, Louise Mushikiwabo
Louise Mushikiwabo made the call during an open debate on the protection
of civilians in armed conflict which the UNSC held in New York on
Tuesday.
“Rwanda’s core message today is that enhancing the protection of
civilians in armed conflict requires action before a conflict starts.
The proliferation of non-state armed groups makes civilian protection
both more urgent, and harder to achieve,” she said.
For better protection of civilians in armed-conflict areas, the minister
emphasised the need to increase investments in professionalising the
military and police forces through adequate training.
“Only when the leadership of armed forces shares the international
community’s preoccupation with civilian protection will decisive
progress be made,” she said.
Rwanda assumed its seat at the UNSC as a non-permanent member in January, replacing South Africa.
The country was subsequently assigned to chair two vital subsidiary
organs of the council which are the committee established to enforce
sanctions of arms embargo, travel ban, and assets freeze imposed on
Libya, as well as an ad hoc working group on prevention of conflicts in
Africa.
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