COMESA’s active engagement in addressing the conflicts in the region dates to 1999 due to concerns on what appeared then as widespread and persistent armed conflicts in the region and after a lengthy debate on the devastating impact of wars and conflicts on the COMESA integration agenda as noted in preceding sections.  The Fourth Summit of the COMESA Authority, which was held in Nairobi, Kenya in May 1999 then decided for formal structures and modalities for COMESA engagement on matters of peace and security under the article 3(d) of the COMESA treaty.  The Authority mandated COMESA Ministers of Foreign Affairs to meet at least once in a year to discuss modalities for addressing peace and security and to also monitor and advice the Authority on promotion of peace, security, and stability.