BY MBONO MDLULI
EZULWINI– Former EU Ambassador to Eswatini Nicola Bellomo has reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to strengthening peace, security and long-term prosperity across Africa through deeper cooperation with African institutions and regional partners.
Speaking during discussions on peace and security at the Africa-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly held at the Ezulwini Palazzo International Convention Centre (ICC), Bellomo described his return to the Kingdom of Eswatini as emotional and meaningful, saying he was honoured to reconnect with old friends, government leaders, members of the royal family, youth representatives and civil society organisations.
Bellomo framed the discussions within the broader partnership between the European Union and the African Union, as well as regional cooperation frameworks under the ACP partnership. He referenced the successful EU-AU Summit held in Rwanda, where peace, security and prosperity featured prominently on the agenda.
According to Bellomo, the summit highlighted the critical connection between peace and economic prosperity, noting that sustainable development cannot be achieved without stability and security. He stressed that effective multilateral cooperation remains essential in addressing global and regional challenges.
“The discussion on peace and security is extremely timely,” he said, adding that the current geopolitical climate continues to evolve in unpredictable ways, making cooperation between Europe and Africa more important than ever.
Bellomo assured delegates that the European Union remains a reliable and predictable partner for Africa in matters of peace and security. He pointed to the EU’s long-standing engagement on the continent and highlighted the establishment of the European Peace Facility in 2021 as a major milestone in strengthening support for African-led peace initiatives.
He revealed that the EU has mobilised approximately €1.2 billion to support African military and defence capabilities as well as African-led peace support operations. In addition, the EU maintains a strong civilian and military presence in several regions across Africa, with around 2 000 soldiers, police officers and civil servants involved in training, advising and supporting African counterparts in areas such as counterterrorism, organised crime prevention and maritime security.
Bellomo further emphasised the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and welcomed calls for stronger engagement between national and regional parliaments in Africa and Europe. He said parliamentary institutions play a critical role in addressing peace and security challenges and strengthening democratic governance.
“Our engagement is based on African solutions,” Bellomo explained, stressing that the European Union supports locally driven initiatives and remains ready to assist African partners in developing sustainable responses to regional challenges.
He also acknowledged the growing role of the African Union, particularly the establishment of the African Union Peace Fund, which aims to strengthen Africa’s ability to respond to conflicts and security threats independently.
Bellomo welcomed the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719, describing it as a significant step that would enable the use of UN assessed contributions to support African Union-led peace operations.
Touching on recent concerns raised by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, Bellomo said the EU was working closely with African partners to address reports of young Africans being recruited into foreign conflicts through false promises of employment and education opportunities.
He concluded by calling for continued dialogue, cooperation and parliamentary engagement between Europe and Africa, saying the shared security interests of both continents require collective action, mutual trust and long-term partnership.
