The African Union’s Strategy for Conflict Prevention and Resolution
Heart of the Matter: African Union’s Conflict Resolution and Security Program
Peace in Africa is no longer just a political ideal; it has become a strategic priority. The African Union (AU) is intensifying its efforts to build lasting peace on the continent through its African Peace and Security Architecture. This includes concrete mechanisms to prevent conflicts, manage crises, and support post-conflict reconstruction. The Peace and Security Council, African Standby Force, and Continental Early Warning System are the pillars of this continental strategy. The goal is clear: anticipate crises and intervene swiftly to prevent violence escalation. However, on the ground, the challenges remain immense. The escalating conflicts across the continent exacerbate a major humanitarian crisis: an estimated 46 million Africans have been forced to flee their homes, either within their own countries or to neighboring countries, due to persistent violence and instability from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa and the Lake Chad Basin. 96% of these forced displacements are directly linked to armed conflicts, emphasizing how insecurity hinders human development and regional stability.
“First, the summit discussed concrete measures to end the conflict in the Eastern DRC. The AU mediator and the President of Togo, His Excellency Faure Gnassingbé, presented a comprehensive report to the Assembly on the actions taken since his appointment by the Assembly in April 2025. Secondly, on the sidelines of the summit, we engaged in dialogue with all conflict actors, especially the panel of facilitators consisting of five former presidents. These facilitators, alongside the mediator and in consultation with the Doha and Washington D.C. processes, reaffirmed the importance of a permanent ceasefire.”
– Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security
AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Bankole Adeoye, emphasizes the urgent need for collective action. According to him, sustainable peace depends on strengthening democratic institutions, combating coups, and better coordination among member states.
“All actors must engage in constructive dialogue to end the suffering of the populations in the Eastern DRC. Thus, the Eastern DRC remains a top priority for the African Union, and I assure you that our goal is to continue working with the international community, based on the principle of immediately and permanently silencing the guns in the Eastern DRC, while promoting sustainable peace founded on an AU-led mediation architecture.”
– Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security
African leaders believe that continental security issues hinder economic development and effective African integration. They call for “silencing the guns” through dialogue, mediation, and African solutions to African problems.
“Throughout this mandate, we have sought to enhance the AU’s role as a platform for political conciliation and concrete action, fostering greater coordination between member states and regional economic communities, strengthening a preventive approach to climate change impacts, mobilizing strategic partnerships for resilient infrastructure financing, and affirming the following principles.”
– João Lourenço, President of Angola, Angola
The “Silencing the Guns” initiative aligns with the AU’s Agenda 2063, which envisions a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated Africa. Faced with millions displaced by violence from the Sahel to Sudan to northern Mozambique, the African Union relies on preventive diplomacy, regional cooperation, and bolstering its operational capacities to fully address the peace and security challenges.
