The Honourable Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, today concluded his visit to Senegal, where he led Canada's delegation at the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa on November 27 and 28, 2023.
At the Forum, Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant announced, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, $14.86 million in project funding to enhance peace and security efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa. This funding builds on Canada's support provided through its Peace and Stabilization Operations Programs and Weapons Threat Reduction Program. Specifically, it will bolster efforts to counter misinformation and disinformation; promote accountability for human rights violations; strengthen social cohesion; enhance health security; and increase biosafety and biosecurity.
During the forum, Parliamentary Secretary Oliphant also met with civil society and government officials, including Rui Alberto de Figueiredo Soares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration of Cabo Verde, and Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel. Throughout his engagements, he underscored Canada's steadfast commitment to working with partners in Africa to support African-led solutions to peace and security challenges.
