Organisers of the Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa have today announced that the chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation and former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan will be the keynote speaker in the fifth anniversary of the event to be held on April 16 and 17 2016.

 Held every year in the northern Ethiopian city of Bahir Dar, the Tana High-Level Forum is an informal gathering of a wide spectrum of African leaders and citizens: heads of state and government; leaders of regional organisations; civil society; the private sector; eminent scholars and practitioners; students and youth; and representatives of Africa’s global partners. Forum participants are drawn from across the continent and overseas.

 The Forum’s mission, according to a release, is to further open a vigorous debate on the nature and causes of Africa’s pressing security threats and, over time, to cultivate a distinctively African voice on understanding and confronting the chief peace and security challenges the continent is facing.

 The theme for the 2016 edition of the Tana Forum is “Africa in the Global Security Agenda”.

 “Africa is in midst of a rapid social, political, and economic transformation. These transformations and the changing fortunes of its citizens come with added responsibilities. As Africa’s economic importance

in the world increases, it must assume its growing importance maturely and conscientiously, including on security related concerns. I look forward to discussing these issues at the 2016 Tana Forum”, said Kofi Annan.

 Former Nigerian president and Chairperson of the Tana Board, Olusegun Obasanjo also said: “There are few people in the international community that command respect across the board for their tireless work in ensuring a peaceful future for Africa like Kofi Annan.

 “He brings a wealth of experience, not just from his time as the UN Secretary General, but also his involvement in peace-making efforts across the continent. We are delighted that he has agreed to join us in Bahir Dar and look forward to an insightful keynote address,” he said.