AUC Chairperson at 26th Extraordinary Session of the AU Executive Council

In his keynote at the 26th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) on the Strengthening of Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention & Resolution in Africa taking place in Luanda, the Republic of #Angola, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf observed that Africa's peace & security environment is facing increasingly complex challenges, from the expansion of terrorism & violent extremism to internal crises, interstate tensions & external shocks.
"Are we equipped to confront these challenges with the strategies, mechanisms & resources currently available? Is the African Peace and Security Architecture adapted to these circumstances?" he posed.

If not, the Chairperson stressed, Africa must urgently advance reforms.

He called for stronger prevention & early warning, including high-level political engagement at the earliest signs of crisis; better coordination between the AU Commission, the Peace & Security Council (PS), Member States & Regional Economic Communities (RECs); & a holistic approach to combating #terrorism, noting that "a purely security-based response has shown its limitations."

Firmness against unconstitutional changes of government, he underlined, must remain essential, while also going hand in hand with dialogue.

The Chairperson further stressed that financing Africa's peace agenda & the goal of #SilencingTheGuns by 2030 can no longer depend primarily on external resources. He called for a strengthened AU Peace Fund & renewed support for UNSC Resolution 2719.
"Political will remains the cornerstone of our collective efforts." he said.

The way forward, he concluded, must be guided by prevention, coordination, sustainable financing, accountability & effective monitoring & evaluation.

Greater vigilance, solidarity & preparedness are essential as Africa navigates an increasingly turbulent geopolitical environment.

Convened under the leadership of H.E João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola & AU Champion for Peace & Reconciliation in Africa, the Executive Council which precede tomorrow's Summit will provide an opportunity for Heads of State & Government to undertake a strategic assessment of the effectiveness of existing continental mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution.

It will also reaffirm African ownership of the governance, peace & security agendas, & the importance of adherence to the principles & tenets of the Constitutive Act of the AU.