August 21, 2024
Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, called on the Council to integrate the voices of all regions to ensure an inclusive, effective peace-and-security framework. He also detailed numerous African Union initiatives aimed at conflict prevention, including its release of principles and guidelines for the use of digital and social media in the context of elections — “another critical contribution to enabling peaceful elections and, therefore, preventing conflict”. Further, the African Union supports member States and the region through direct assistance, support for security-sector reform, building human capacity and serving as a platform for coordination.
“We cannot achieve the requisite conflict prevention without sustainable financing,” he emphasized, describing efforts to mobilize public and private resources so that the Union can contribute to African-owned and -led sustainable funding of all its peace operations — particularly conflict prevention. Also detailing several recommendations for future action, he urged building institutions and resilience in local and border communities, as well as investing in quality, accessible and inclusive education for deprived communities.
“I want to assure you”, he concluded, “that the African Union remains committed to ‘A New Agenda for Peace’ that is driven by a new architecture that prioritizes early warning, early response and conflict prevention.”