FAO Regional Office for Africa

King Lestie III: Better nutrition is central to ensure a hunger-free Africa by 2025

His Majesty confers with the African Union Chairperson

King Letsie with the AUC Chairperson Hon. Mahamat during visit to AUC @FAO/Tezeta Meshesha

August 24, 2017, Addis Ababa - “Mindful of the fact that malnutrition is responsible for the death of more than one third of children in Africa, the menace of malnutrition is unacceptable and must end,” said His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho and FAO’s Special Ambassador for Nutrition.

During his meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Hon. Moussa Faki Mahamat, His Majesty lamented the fact that stunting is still affecting one in three children in Africa and, as a result, 58 million children are too short for their age. In addressing these challenges, thereby achieving the “Huger-Free Continent by 2025”, His Majesty said, “FAO will further strengthen its ties with the African Union Commission and enforce the nutrition-sensitive agriculture and food systems agenda to scale up the auspicious effort that is being spearheaded by the Commission to overcome all forms of malnutrition including micronutrient deficiencies.” Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest level of food insecurity in the world. An estimated 220 million people lack adequate nutrition. The nature of the problem is shifting rapidly, with overweight status and obesity emerging as new forms of malnutrition in the region.

Recalling the fact that about 153 million people aged 15 years or more, representing 26 percent of people of this age group were severely food insecure in Africa, Hon. Moussa Faki Mahamat, on his part, remarked that African Governments must put extra efforts to create an environment, where conflicts and wars are no longer hindering farmers from producing adequate, diversified and nutritious foods. While addressing the security issues, he said, FAO and AUC would continue to work together to free the continent from malnutrition and hunger, which currently cast a shadow on Africa’s future.

During the meeting, Commissioner for Social Affairs, Hon. Amira El-Fadil, presented the facts on the state of malnutrition in Africa and the joint measures being taken by FAO and the AUC.

His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho and Special Ambassador of FAO for Nutrition made his first mission to Ethiopia from August 21 to 24, 2017, to promote the critical importance of eradicating malnutrition through nutrition-sensitive agriculture food systems in Ethiopia and across the African continent.