African leaders have met in Luanda, Angola, to focus on stopping conflicts before they start, rather than just reacting after violence breaks out.
The gathering is the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) on Strengthening Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Resolution, preceded on August 30 by the 26th Extraordinary Session of the AU Executive Council.
The summit’s primary agenda was to consider and adopt a comprehensive Decision, Action Plan, and Implementation Matrix on Conflict Prevention and Resolution for the continent. The African leaders aim to assess existing continental peace and security frameworks and agree on concrete measures to improve coordination, responsiveness, implementation, and financing of both the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA).
The summit was hosted by Angolan President João Lourenço, who serves as the AU Champion for Peace and Reconciliation. Lourenço has long argued that Africa too often mobilizes only after violence has begun, and called for timely interventions to stop crises from escalating.
He pointed to the Peace and Security Council, the continental early-warning system, the Panel of the Wise and the Peace Fund, and urged they be deployed with greater speed and effectiveness.
Addressing the summit, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf warned that Africa's peace ambitions can no longer depend chiefly on external financing, and called for a stronger, fully operational AU Peace Fund.
He also stressed the need for renewed support for UN Security Council Resolution 2719, and a revitalized continental early-warning capacity, insisting that "political will remains the cornerstone of our collective efforts".
Youssouf underlined that "prevention must become our priority," urging sustainable financing for peace operations and more effective implementation of AU decisions.
Discussions at the summit mainly focused on conflict zones including Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, which are continuing to destabilize the continent.
