Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso has called for dialogue as a means of fixing various conflicts on the continent noting that African solutions should be given priority.
Nguesso made the remarks during an exclusive interview with a French Television channel France 24 on Sunday.
The Congolese leader who has been in power since 1997 expressed his reservations about the effectiveness of sanctions in resolving conflicts in Africa.
“Sanctions have not always solved the problem. What matters to us is the search for a real solution to the crisis,” Nguesso said, reaffirming his opposition to punitive measures.
Asked about the role of the African Union, Mr. Nguesso acknowledged difficulties in the continent’s mediations but insisted on the need for Africa to manage its own crises.
“Africans have always known how to solve problems by themselves. There is no need to resort to others without the participation of Africa,” he added.
He referred to the Libyan crisis, recalling how external actors had tried to exclude Africa from the discussions before realizing that stabilizing the country required the continent’s involvement.
This statement comes as Brazzaville and Kinshasa are trying to strengthen their security cooperation.
Congolese Interior Minister Raymond Zéphirin Mboulou had stated during the 10th session of the Special Commission on Defense and Security between the two countries in Kinshasa that the Republic of Congo “has never served and will never serve as a rear base for an initiative aimed at destabilising a neighbouring country, especially not the Democratic Republic of Congo.”