Konate heads AU standby force

AFRICAS quest to tackle its crises has got a fresh boost with Gen. Sekouba Konate assuming duty as the African Union (AU) High Representative for the Operationalisation of the African Standby Force (ASF) and Head of the AU Strategic Planning and Management Unit.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that he took the oath of office yesterday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Speaking in Addis Ababa shortly after his inauguration, Konate said he would work towards reducing war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.He said the ASF would also focus on the establishment of regional military bases and consolidate the achievement recorded so far by the Peace and Security Architecture of the AU Commission.I will focus more on rapid deployment capacity of the ASF and co-ordinate with regional bases in order to have an effective force that can act and respond to eventualities with immediate effect, Konate said.He further promised to work closely with the military commands of AU member-states and all the commissions partners to push the continental agenda of sustainable peace and security.Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jean Ping, the AU Commission Chairperson, urged Konate to put into use his vast wealth of experience as the former head of Guineas transitional government.Konate had helped to restore constitutional order in the West African country.Ping said Konate would be expected to improve on the management of peace and security in Africa.In addition to this, he is expected to help build partnership and co-operation with all stakeholders of Africas development and build a commitment with African political leaders to achieve the desired goals, he said.Ping charged Konate to demonstrate a high sense of responsibility and quality of leadership in the discharge of his new responsibility.
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