Prime Minister Édouard Ngirente has called for greater action to tackle insecurity in French-speaking countries, urging parliamentarians to make major contributions to the achievement of democracy and lasting peace. 

The Premier made the remarks on Friday, July 8, while officially opening the 47th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie (APF) held in Kigali.

Ngirente stressed how the world today is faced with multiple issues, including security challenges.

The opening the 47th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie  in Kigali on Friday July 8. Courtesy

"The threats to collective peace and security have never been more of a concern. We all know that many of our member countries are suffering the scourge of terrorism on a daily basis,” he observed.

According to available media reports, countries such as Burkina Faso (this year), Guinea and Mali (in 2021) underwent coups d’état.

Also, failed coup attempts were reported in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Guinea-Bissau.

The Prime Minister said the event’s theme, ‘Global governance: the role of parliaments for lasting peace,’ reflects the central place that parliamentarians must occupy in discussions at the global level, particularly in the French-speaking world.

This, he said, is very opportune in a global context marked by major conflicts with potentially devastating transnational effects.

"It is therefore with great interest that Rwanda will take up the conclusions and recommendations you are going to formulate, with no doubt, on the contribution that parliaments, in particular that of Rwanda, would be able to make in this context,” he observed.

Need for good governance

Parliaments are a fundamental and essential link in the smooth running of countries, Ngirente said, noting that they are the pillars and guarantors of the rule of law and democracy.

However, he said that, "Without good governance and strong and inclusive institutions, our efforts for development and lasting peace will be in vain.”

Officials in group photo at the opening the 47th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie  in Kigali on Friday July 8. Courtesy

Peace, he emphasised, can only be achieved if certain conditions of the welfare of the peoples are met. He cited among others, food security, inclusive education and coaching of the youth, strong health systems; and appropriate infrastructure as the basis of all of this.

The Prime Minister reiterated the will and commitment of the Rwandan Government, to cooperate with all states and member governments with a view to promoting the fundamental values of La Francophonie, to achieve common objectives, especially in terms of world governance and lasting peace.

Adama Bictogo, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie, said parliamentary actions must be based on their status as representatives of peoples, which gives them all the legitimacy and legality to strengthen democracy in their states, through the respect for human rights, the rule of law, equality of gender, free and fair elections and the separation of powers.

"Democratic governance is essential to conflict management. Legitimate and representative governance, based on the rule of law and respecting the fundamental rights of citizens, constitutes the most effective way for societies to prevent, manage and recover from conflicts,” Bictogo said.