The Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, says armed conflicts in Africa thrives because political leaders on the continent are too slow to act on early warning signs.
He said signs like disrespect for the rights of citizens, poor justice systems and inequalities in the distribution of national resources are consistently overlooked by leaders and these issues explode into chaotic situations and violence.
Mr. Dieng was delivering the 6th Kofi Annan-Dag Hammarskjöld Annual Lecture at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping and Training Centre in Accra. He said early warning signs of conflicts must go hand in hand with early action.
