Côte d’Ivoire Vice-President Tiémoko Koné has warned that the world’s peace architecture is gradually weakening, amid African countries’ struggle to combat rising conflicts and violent crimes.

“The world is looking on at the gradual fragmentation of its peace architecture,” Mr Koné said at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday in the U.S., citing in particular the “dire situation” in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Sudan.

He also identified illicit trafficking, violent extremism and transnational organised crime as challenges destabilising several regions, particularly the Sahel.

African countries “are struggling to find lasting solutions to conflicts and to bear the costs of various counter-terrorism and peacekeeping operations”, he said.

He raised concerns about “a lack of support from certain partners” and the United Nations.

However, Mr Koné lauded the UN, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and security partners for their efforts to ensure peace.

He further called for Africa’s permanent membership of the UN Security Council, as well as reform of the international financial system to support developing countries.