KIGALI, Rwanda

African leaders urged collaboration Thursday to ensure peace and security on the continent to achieve the region’s economic development agenda.

“We need to silence the guns that we (African Union) have always said that we should on our continent.” Kenya’s President William Ruto told the 23rd Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit in Burundi. “There is still too much conflict, too much instability, too much war all over our continent.”

He noted insecurity hampers interstate trade and discourages investment on the continent.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema underscored the importance of peace, security and stability for the region’s economic development agenda.

“So, we must continue paying attention to the situations afflicting us in our individual countries and within the group,” he said about COMESA.

Human Rights Watch said the summit presented a good opportunity for the leaders to address the conflict affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and elsewhere in the region and formulate clear, concrete pathways to protecting civilians.

Congo President Felix Tshisekedi said it is impossible to address issues of prosperity on the continent without addressing security challenges, caused by negative forces.

At the summit, Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye took the reins of COMESA’s chairmanship from Hichilema.

COMESA is the largest regional economic organization in Africa, bringing together 21 member states.