The three day Annual Review workshop that took place in Kigali, Rwanda from 10th to 13th November 2009, brought on board civil society organisations from different COMESA countries, particularly organisations that have received accreditation to the Programme on Peace and Security. Organisations that have not been accredited were also invited in order to motivate them to kick-start the accreditation process in these countries. Accredited organisations were able to brief the meeting on what they have done so far in supporting the COMESA programme. The meeting also enabled the organisations to learn and share the best practices in the region.

According to COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya, COMESA has so far been able to hold national consultations in eleven countries, including Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Burundi, Seychelles, Malawi, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Swaziland. Applications from these countries were reviewed and presented to the Seventh Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs that was held in Djibouti in November 2006; thirteen organizations were granted accreditation. Mr Ngwenya revealed this in a speech read on his behalf by Mweusi Karake, COMESA Public Relations Officer, who is also the Country Officer for Rwanda.

Opening the meeting, Rwanda’s Minister of Commerce Hon. Monique Nsazabaganwa expressed happiness at the participation of different non state actors in the COMESA Peace and Security Programme, particularly the media who are being brought in for the first time. The Minister noted that “we must encourage responsible, conflict-sensitive reporting that has the effect of mitigating and not propagating the conflicts”, and added that the media has the duty to inform, but in a responsible manner.

Minister Nsazabaganwa hoped that the COMESA Peace and Security Project will also focus on reversing misperception about Africa, noting that the perception of insecurity is almost as harmful to the economy as real insecurity. She added that most media, particularly the western media has continued to portray Africa in a very negative light, and this has the effects of further discouraging investors.

At the same event, COMESA Secretary General briefed the meeting on partnership with other regional economic groupings, pointing out that COMESA, IGAD and EAC are in the process of implementing a conflict prevention, management and resolution strategy for Eastern and Southern African Region, where COMESA is implementing the war economy component. “As you are aware, many conflicts in our region have been extended by conflict entrepreneurs, who have acted as peace spoilers in order to continue to benefit from illegal lucrative economic activities during conflict”, added Mr Ngwenya. He called upon the private sector to play fully its role in conflict prevention.