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ADDIS ABABA. — The African Union has noted that inadequate force enablers and multipliers, as well as financial resource gaps are among the major challenging situations facing Africa in its efforts to ensure peace and stability on the continent.

Speaking to the UN Security Council, Smail Chergui, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, noted that conflict prevention remains the most cost effective conflict management tools but yet the least resourced, according to an AU statement late Wednesday.

Stating that AU is an indispensable partner in promoting peace and security in Africa, Chergui has called for more strengthened cooperation with the UN and the international community on peace and security on the continent.

Over the last decade, AU has authorised the deployment of more than 100 000 uniformed and civilian personnel, many of whom are deployed in some of the most high risk and volatile environment, according to the Commissioner.

“This has come at a huge cost to human lives. It is noteworthy to mention here that the number of casualties by African troops in peace support operations in the last decade exceeds the combined casualties experienced in UN peacekeeping missions over the last 70 years,” he said. —Xinhua.