21 Sep Statement by H. E. Bankole ADEOYE Commissioner for Political Affairs Peace and Security African Union Commission on the occasion of the Commemoration of the 2024 International Peace Day, 21 September 2024
Today, as we commemorate the International Day of Peace, the African Union (AU) reaffirms its commitment to advancing peace, security and stability in Africa. Particularly so when this year’s event is also being celebrated against the drop of intractable terrorism, insurgency and armed conflicts where in some cases, the concept of protection of civilians is collapsing and genocide is either real or looming, driven by injustice, intolerance, exclusion, poverty, inequality, constitutional governance and climate change challenges. And these serve as grave threats to Africa and indeed global, stability, peace and prosperity. This year’s Peace Day theme, “Cultivating a Culture of Peace”, is therefore a timely reminder for the AU and its regional economic communities and mechanisms (RECs/RMs), civil society and the private sector as well as our bilateral and multilateral partners, to scale up our individual and collective efforts in holistic peacebuilding approaches. It calls for cross-sectoral responses to the conflict and post-conflict situations in the Horn of Africa, the Lake Chad Basin, the Sahel and the Great Lakes regions, among others, and which must inclusive, owned by the affected communities and jointly supported with adequate and predictable regional, continental and international support. The Summit of the Future provides a promising platform for ‘We the Peoples’ and Governments, to renew our commitments, individually and collectively, and to walk the talk before we self-destruct beyond repair. For her part, the AU, in line with its Constitutive Act, the Peace and Security Council (PSC) Protocol and Agenda 2063, particularly its Aspirations 3 and 4 on good governance, peace and security, is determined to scale up action in addressing these shared challenges. In this connection, we call on all stakeholders, to work together in an all government and all society approach, to anchor peace, human security and dignity. And to that end, to leverage relevant UN and AU instruments including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, AU Silencing the Guns and the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement flagship projects, AU and AU-UN human rights instruments and UN Security Council Resolution 2719, AU Peace Fund, inter-continental peace facilities, the Joint AU-UNDP African Facility for Inclusive Political Transitions as well as the AfDB Facility to address fragility and build institutional resilience in Africa. In promoting a culture of peace, the Biennale of Luanda, the Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace, has become a crucial platform for fostering dialogue and cooperation among African leaders, civil society, and the international community, while emphasizing education, youth empowerment, and intergenerational dialogue. The AU has accordingly prioritized conflict prevention by strengthening early warning mechanisms, preventive diplomacy, inclusive peacemaking and peace missions. The Panel of the Wise and its subsidiaries, FemWise-Africa (the network of African women mediators) and Youth-Wise (the network for youth in peacebuilding), as well as the AU Youth Ambassadors for Peace, continue to contribute to peace and social cohesion at policy and community levels across our continent. The media, particularly social media, film and artificial intelligence are also part of our strategic outlook in advancing a culture of peace. Coincidentally, September also marks Africa Amnesty Month, promoting disarmament, rehabilitation and reintegration in conflict situations. On this International Day of Peace, the AU urges member states, regional organizations, civil society including professional bodies, traditional authorities, religious and inter religious groups, as well as the private sector, to redouble efforts in achieving peace through sustainable development, good governance, and the protection of human rights, especially liberty of conscience, justice and inclusive development. We also urge all Africans, especially women and youth, to actively engage in policy-making and peacebuilding initiatives. Together, let us build on the African values of Ubuntu, solidarity, dialogue, and cooperation and to concretely build peace. We also call on our international partners, working in closer synergy with Africa, for us to reprioritize multilateralism underpinned by mutual respect, justice, rule of law, inclusive development, good governance of global institutions, shared peace and prosperity. Let us, in a spirit of solidarity, and in rich and mutually reinforcing diversity, Deliver Together As One.