Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1233^rd meeting, held at the Ministerial level on 25 September 2024, on New Security Threats in Africa and the Future of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union.

The Peace and Security Council,

Restating its commitment towards the promotion  of peace and security in Africa and the future of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, particularly, the Statement of Commitment to Peace and Security in Africa, adopted in Addis Ababa by the Heads of State and Government of the Members of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, PSC/AHG/ST.(X), on 25 May 2004, during the launching of the PSC, and reaffirming our commitment to realize the objectives enshrined in the Constitutive Act of the Union and the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council, the noble goal of silencing the guns in Africa by 2030, and aspiration 4 of AU Agenda 2063;

Recalling the relevant provisions of the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU) and the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, the Dar Es Salaam Declaration on the 20^th Anniversary of the Peace and Security Council adopted on 25 May 2024; and the Declaration on the Tenth Anniversary of the Peace and Security Council adopted on 25 June 2014; and attaching paramount importance to the necessity of peace, security and stability in Africa, as pre-conditions for the acceleration of socio-economic development and integration of the Continent, as well as the future of the Peace and Security Council;

Taking note of the opening statement by H.E. Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Cameroon and Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council for September 2024, and the opening Remarks by H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council: 

1. Expresses deep concern that Africa continues to battle with myriad threats, both new, emerging and pervasive, to peace, security and stability, which were specifically identified as including, a) exponential growth of terrorism, violent extremism and transnational organized crime, especially human trafficking and the proliferation of weapons, as well as maritime Insecurity/piracy across the five (5) regions of the continent; b) Unprecedented Inter-State tensions and disputes; c) Renewed cold war-like geopolitical and ideological competition; d) Governance deficit; e) Resurgence of Unconstitutional Changes of Government; f) Youth Restiveness resulting from political exclusion and structural unemployment; g) Post Covid-19 Pandemic cascading effects of economic crises and unsustainable external debts; h) Prolonged Humanitarian crises, forced displacement and the weaponization of sexual/gender based violence; i) Acute competition for natural resources and climate Insecurity as threat-multiplier; and, j) New technologies and cybersecurity;

2.  Takes note of the achievements of the Peace and Security Council since its inception in 2004 in the promotion of peace, security, and stability in Africa, in close cooperation and coordination with the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union Political and Security Committee, the League of Arab States and other international organizations, as well as the civil society organization and think tanks; further takes note  of the role of the PSC in the promotion of women and youth, peace and security, and the protection of children in conflict situations within the agenda of the PSC;

3. Commends AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) for their sustained efforts towards supporting the Peace and Security Council in addressing the emerging peace and security challenges on the continent; also commends the Member States for attaining the full signing of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union by all AU Member States and encourages those who have not ratified to do so;

4. Acknowledges the tireless efforts by the AU Commission under the leadership of H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission for the role they continue to play in the search for durable and lasting peace towards silencing the guns in Africa in the implementation of the African Union Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and African Union Governance Architecture (AGA); and underscores the need to ensure full implementation of the decisions of the PSC and calls for greater political commitment and resources in support of the PSC and the APSA and AGA pillars to ensure effective implementation of the African Standby Force (ASF) and the architectures on governance, peace and security in the Continent;

5. Underscores the need for Member States to address the structural root causes and drivers of conflict on the continent; and in this regard, commits to work towards addressing issues of human security, including putting in place deliberate socio-economic empowerment programs aimed at empowering the population, especially the women and the youth away from the politics of identity to the politics of interest; and deprive the radical elements in the continent communities of the fertile ground for recruitment;

6.  Expresses deep concern over the increase of inter-state tensions and violent intra-state conflicts on the continent, which exacerbates the already  fragile security, political, economic and humanitarian situations, affecting civilians, in particular children, women, youth, and the elderly; in this regard, demands all parties to conflicts to prioritize the path to a peaceful resolution of their differences, immediately and unconditionally cease hostilities to alleviate the suffering of  civilians;

7. Notes with concern the renewed geopolitical and ideological competition on the continent, external interference, presence of foreign military, rising operations of mercenaries and private military companies, and resource competition;

8. Underscores the need for Member States and RECs/RMs to enhance  early warning systems and preventive diplomacy capacities in the Continent to anticipate emerging threats and prevent conflicts before they escalate;

9. Requests the AU Commission to provide timely early warning to Member States and urges Member States to respond in a timely manner to prevent full-blown conflicts; in this context, strongly condemns denialism, which prevents early response for conflict prevention;

10. Stresses the need to intensify AU’s efforts to promote democratic governance, constitutionalism, and the rule of law to stabilize regions affected by political disruptions and prevent future crises such as the surge in unconstitutional changes of government; and underscores the need for AU Member States to promote inclusive and broad-based governance in Africa;

11. Calls for the integration of cybersecurity into its conflict prevention frameworks and encourages Member States to collaborate to bolster digital resilience, counter cyber security and mitigate the risks posed by disinformation and digital threats;

12. Notes with concern the increase of youth restiveness due to various factors, including unemployment, the impact of public health crises, rising living costs, increased debt burden and fiscal instability, climate-related fuelling conflict, and emphasizes the need for the AU Commission to continue providing support and capacity to Member States to integrate various structural drivers of conflict into conflict prevention, peacebuilding and conflict resolution strategies;

13. Underscores the need for redoubling efforts on post-conflict reconstruction and development in Africa, including promoting gainful employment for youth, especially in countries in political transition and those emerging from conflict, and fostering reconciliation for the consolidation of peace dividends and preventing relapses into conflict; in this regard, commends the full operationalization of the AU Post-Conflict and Reconciliation Center in Cairo, Egypt, and calls on all Member States to make full use of the PCRD Centre;

14. Calls on Member States and the international community to  enhance efforts in addressing the increasingly acute humanitarian situation on the continent; and demands all parties involved in violent conflicts in Africa to strictly adhere to International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law (IHL/IHRL), and all other international instruments on the protection of civilians and to facilitate humanitarian access to populations in need  as well as ensure the safety and security of humanitarian workers and aid agencies;

15. Underlines the need to enhance the cooperation, coordination and coherence between the PSC and the elected African Members of the UN Security Council (A3) to ensure that Africa’s positions and interests are promoted within the UN Security Council and other  global platforms and commends the A3 for their leadership on issues of peace and security in Africa within the UN Security Council;

16. Welcomes the adoption of the Pact for the Future, which includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations by the world leaders during the Summit of the Future held on 22 September 2024, on the margins of the 79^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly aimed at listening to young people and including them in decision-making at the national and global levels; redoubling efforts to build and sustain peaceful, inclusive, and just societies and address the root causes of conflicts; protecting all civilians in armed conflict and accelerate the implementation of our commitments on women, peace and security, among others; and urges all Member States to deploy all efforts to ensure its full implementation for ‘a better tomorrow’;

17. Welcomes the commitment to UN Security Council reform recognizing the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, and accountable; and further  reaffirms the Common African Position enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration to redress the historical under-representation of Africa in the UN Security Council;

18. Requests the AU Commission to develop a policy paper on emerging threats on peace and security on the continent to be submitted to Council by November for its consideration; and

19. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS