Demise of African Youths in Mediterranean Sea Unacceptable- Buhari

Demise of African Youths in Mediterranean Sea Unacceptable-

Buhari

 

Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday described as unacceptable the drowning of African youths on their illegal attempts at, and oftentimes illusory hope of, attaining a better life in Europe.

He said the development was not only an embarrassment to African leaders, but dehumanised their persons. 

"They combine to paint a very unfavourable picture of our peoples and countries" he said.

He also congratulated President Robert Mugabe on his election as the chairman of African Union.

The president spoke at the opening session of the 25th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

According to Buhari, African leaders owed it as a duty to reverse the ugly trend, adding that "we must put an end to the so-called push factors that compel our young men and women to throw caution to the winds and risk life, limbs and all, on this dangerous adventure.

"We must redouble our efforts to sustain the economic development of our countries, ensure empowerment of our youths, create more jobs, improve and upgrade our infrastructure, and above all continue the enthronement of a regime of democracy, good governance and respect for human rights and rule of law."

He stressed that these and other measures that engendered peace and stability must be pursued relentlessly.

In this regards, the president said, African leaders must persist in their collective endeavour to work together through the African Union and their respective Regional Economic Communities (RECs), to uplift the continent and provide the African peoples the enabling environment for the realisation of their legitimate dreams and aspirations.