The African Union Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department, in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Peace Operations and Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC), with funding from the German Federal Foreign Office, convened a two-day Policy Forum on “Regional Approaches to Dealing with Armed Groups in the Sahel, from 19 – 20 November 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

From the beginning, the project was intended to improve the inclusion of local perspectives in the policies and operations addressing armed groups in the Sahel. Additionally, it aims to strengthen the empirical evidence supporting these policies at national, regional, and international levels. The project plans to share its research findings with key policymakers across these different levels to achieve this goal.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Patience Chiradza, Director of the Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate, emphasized that” The limited capacity of state institutions and the lack of effective local governance in border areas have facilitated the trafficking of drugs, weapons, and natural resources. Therefore, successful DDR initiatives require regional cooperation and agreements to address the fluidity of armed group dynamics. These highlight the importance of encouraging research across the continent to better understand the dynamics of armed groups in various sub-regions, along with the proliferation of illicit arms and the trafficking of weapons. Such research will form the basis for developing a continental strategy to address the issue of non-state armed groups in Africa. Additionally, they will provide valuable insights from a community perspective, helping to shape more nuanced policy and strategic responses.”

Ms. Irina Höhn, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Federal Republic Germany to Ethiopia, applauds that” Through our partnership with the Lake Chad Basin Commission’s Regional Stabilization Facility, Germany has actively supported interventions aimed at fostering peace, security, and resilience in the Sahel’s borderlands.  This facility is a cornerstone of regional stabilization, working directly with affected communities to rebuild lives, restore trust, and reduce the root causes that fuel insurgencies. This commitment is also re?ected in Germany’s National Security Strategy, which emphasizes that insecurity abroad directly affects stability at home.”

In his remarks, Mr. Gerald Mitchell, Deputy Head of Office and Director of Political Affairs at the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), called upon that “For DDR to have an optimal result in sustaining peace and security, I would like to highlight three key elements: (i) DDR should be part of conflict prevention. The Pact for the Future also advocates for strengthening national capacities to promote and implement prevention efforts and address conflict drivers, including sharing best practices and lessons learned. (ii) DDR processes should be guided by applicable measures (judicial and non-judicial) as well as policy and institutional frameworks, including for handling cases of former members of terrorist groups. (iii) DDR should be part of a comprehensive approach. It is essential to recognize the strong linkages between DDR and other aspects of a peace process, including Security Sector Reform (SSR), Transitional Justice (TJ), socio-economic development, climate change, and the role of natural resources.”

Discussions and sessions focusing on thematic areas, such as armed group dynamics, community perspectives, and regional approaches to dealing with armed groups (focus on non-state security providers and the future or the past), were undertaken for two days. Participants concluded by recommending central leveraging points and assessing the possible trends and their likelihood via the PESTLE approach (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, & Environmental aspects).

The high-level event brought together policymakers representing the AU Member States, the African Union Commission and its relevant offices, the United Nations agencies, BICC, Regional Economic Communities/ Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), Key Donor countries, International Organisations, Regional Organisations including Lake Chad Bain Commission (LCBC), African Centre of Excellence, and national representatives.

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For further information, please contact:

Mr. Abraham Kebede, PAPS Digital Support Officer and Database Administrator | Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security | African Union Commission | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Email: abrahamk@africa-union.org

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