CEN-SAD countries pledge to achieve economic integration, preserve peace

Member countries of the Community of Sahel and Saharan States (CEN-SAD) pledged to achieve regional economic integration and preserve peace.

The Khartoum Declaration, which crowned a two-day summit of CEN-SAD nations in the Sudanese capital city, called for a "rigorous strategy" to achieve these objectives.

CEN-SAD was adopted by member states as the official name of the grouping instead of COMESSA. CEN-SAD stands for the first letters in Arabic of the words Sahel and Sahara.

The Summit was marked by the unanimous approval of the adherence of Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Nigeria and Somalia as new members of the grouping. The five nations joined the Central African Republic, Senegal, Zambia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and Libya.

The Khartoum summit called for the settlement of internal conflicts in certain African nations and of disputes between some countries of the region.

The member countries also pledged to struggle against all forms of economic under-development and poverty and to ensure the region's lasting development.

In this vein, member states were called to promote their trade exchanges, to ease the movement of people and goods and to conclude cooperation accords in trade, transport and telecommunication to prepare for the enforcement of a common market.

The leaders equally expressed willingness to take the needed measures to fight drought, desertification, and different epidemics and to join efforts in protecting the environment and clearing mines.

This was the third summit of the community. The first was held in Libya in February 1998 and the second in Chad in February 2000.