?

Rosemary DiCarlo (C, front), United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, speaks during a Security Council open debate on silencing the guns in Africa, at the UN headquarters in New York, Feb. 27, 2019. The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted a resolution expressing its readiness to contribute to the African Union's pledge to "end all wars in Africa by 2020" and "achieve the goal of a conflict-free Africa". (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted a resolution expressing its readiness to contribute to the African Union's pledge to "end all wars in Africa by 2020" and "achieve the goal of a conflict-free Africa".

Noting that Africa still faces enormous challenges, the resolution 2457 acknowledges that the building of a conflict-free Africa essentially rests on the African Union, its member states, their people and their institutions, including their civil society.

The resolution expresses support for initiatives aimed at finding African solutions to African problems, while recognizing the need for international cooperation and partnership to help accelerate progress toward the realization of this continental goal.

The resolution also underlines the need for effective implementation of relevant arms control and disarmament instruments and regimes as well as arm embargoes imposed by the UN Security Council.

In the resolution, the council reaffirms its determination to take action against illicit exploitation and trafficking of natural resources and high-value commodities in areas where it contributes to the outbreak, escalation or continuation of armed conflict in Africa.