African Peace & Security Dialogue kicks off with a call for African-led solutions

The inaugural African Peace & Security Dialogue opened in Johannesburg on 4th October 2024, with a fiery appeal from the Chairperson of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, for the African spirit to provide ambitious solutions that will help get rid of the peace and security challenges that have long besmirched the African continent.

Addressing a distinguished audience that included Prime Minister Malik of Sudan, ministers, international representatives, and leaders of civil society, Fraser-Moleketi pressed the urgent imperative for Africans to lead their development process themselves and to put an end to the myriad conflicts still afflicting large swathes of the continent.

"We embark on a new journey, one that's not merely a gathering of minds, but an active platform for critical engagement, for robust engagement and most importantly, for the generation of African-led solutions to African problems," she stated.

She referenced current global conflicts, such as the violence in Gaza and Lebanon, and drew parallels to Africa’s own colonial past, especially in South Africa and Namibia. Fraser-Moleketi pointed out that Africa holds valuable lessons for the world, particularly regarding the continent’s unique history with nuclear disarmament, citing South Africa’s voluntary decision to abandon nuclear weapons as a model.

Despite global turmoil, the chairperson stressed that Africa faces its own set of challenges. She expressed deep concern about the continent’s ongoing conflicts, including military takeovers and civil wars, noting that six African countries are currently suspended by the African Union (AU) due to instability.

“The democratic dividend is not extended to the masses of our people, leading to instability and violence. With the escalation of conflicts in various parts of our continent, it has shown the AU's peace architecture to be ineffective and rudderless,” she argued. “The nature of the war in Africa today, its totality, its brutality, inevitably makes those involved commit war crimes, crimes against humanity and possible genocide, making them violate international laws.”

“Its impunity with wars and brutality are, of course, a big challenge. So, the ongoing wars and conflicts in various parts of our continent are turning into mass starvation, displacement and famine. This can be seen in Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Sudan,” she added.

The objective of the Annual African Peace & Security Dialogue is to provide a platform for African political and economic leaders, scholars, and policymakers to discuss current peace and security challenges facing the continent, share best practices, and develop practical solutions. The dialogue seeks to deepen understanding and stimulate a robust debate on African-led solutions to peace and security challenges.

Fraser-Moleketi expressed the foundation’s hope that this event will grow into a central pillar for peace and security across the continent, engaging African leaders, scholars, and policymakers.

"Africa cannot achieve its renaissance amid ongoing conflict," she declared, calling for unity in tackling the root causes of insecurity on the continent.

Fraser-Moleketi concluded her remarks with a powerful call to action, urging participants to think critically and commit to practical, actionable solutions for peace.

"Let us ensure that this dialogue does not end in this room but goes beyond through ongoing collaboration, follow-up actions and the establishment of a robust monitoring mechanism," she said, expressing optimism that this dialogue could spark a continent-wide movement towards sustainable peace and security.

The event will conclude on October 6, with delegates expected to propose strategies for addressing the pressing security challenges facing Africa today. The theme of the inaugural African Peace & Security Dialogue is “Towards a Peaceful and Secure Africa: Challenges and Opportunities”.

Present at the opening ceremony were former South African President, H.E. Thabo Mbeki; Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Frederick Shava; Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Hon. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo; and Prof. Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President of King’s College London, among other distinguished personalities.

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