Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, said that Africa’s vast natural resources, strategic location and youth make it a significant, valued actor in the international system. 

“Its perspectives provide fresh insights for a changing world,” he added. Further, addressing insecurity — particularly terrorism and violent extremism — as well as economic and governance challenges requires multi-dimensional and African-led structured solutions premised on global security. 

“At the very root of these challenges,” he stressed, is the “state of health” of individual African States and the quality of their engagement with the rest of the world. For its part, the African Union is committed to build strong African States that will boost global security and development. 

Pointing out that African institutions are currently being tested by the combined weight of the impacts of climate change and other socioeconomic implications, he urged several actions to enhance African States’ ability to address multiple challenges.

First, he underlined the need to reconfigure the global peace and security architecture. 

Renewed multilateralism for the sake of global stability is necessary, he stressed, adding: “This is Africa’s right and not just a demand.” Additionally, the Security Council must be enlarged to be more inclusive, pro-Africa, democratic, responsive, legitimate, equitable and accountable. 

Welcoming the 2023 decision to expand Group of 20 (G20) membership to include the African Union, he said this serves as a “viable model” and boosts realization of the African Continental Free Trade Area as well as the bloc’s Agenda 2063 and the UN’s 2030 Agenda. 

He also called for adequate, flexible, predictable and sustainable financing for African peace operations, which “will serve to promote peace enforcement in the era where peacekeeping is shrinking.” The African Union stands ready to address the continent’s complex, intractable conflicts, and the implementation of resolution 2719 (2023) will be a litmus test for such financing.

He went on to state that the African Union works to promote effective preventive diplomacy, mediation and dialogue. Underlining the importance of such measures, he spotlighted the Praetoria Peace Agreement on Tigray and expressed hope that Sudan will “change course through better mediation for a cessation of hostilities to be effected.” 

Reforming the global financial architecture is another imperative, as the existing one is “plagued with inequities, gaps and inefficiencies” that must be addressed, he said. Bridging technology gaps and developing innovative financing mechanisms are crucial, and he therefore called for creating a new architecture for global economic governance, addressing the cost of sovereign borrowing, improving access to Special Drawing Rights (SDR), and linking private-sector profitability with sustainable development. He also urged the mainstreaming of women in governance, youth inclusion and child protection.

“It is also fundamental to promote a delicate balance between the classic first-generation political and civil rights and the economic, social and cultural rights premised on the right to peace and, most importantly, the right to development,” he said. 

This will ensure an Africa where good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice for all and the rule of law thrive. Underscoring that the African Union’s adequate representation and effective participation in international affairs will be a “public good,” he also underlined the need to ensure complementarity between the bloc and the UN through regional economic mechanisms and commissions. 

“Silencing the Guns remains on our agenda,” he said, also stressing the importance of “zero-tolerance” for all unconstitutional changes of government as well as continued support for the nexus between peace, security and development.