On 25 and 26 October 2024 the Founder and Executive Director of ACCORD, Dr Vasu Gounden participated in the African Union’s (AU’s) 15th Annual High-Level Retreat on the promotion of Peace, Security and Stability in Africa, which took place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The Forum’s theme for this year discussed the Impact and Sustainability of AU Preventive Diplomacy and Mediation. Set against the backdrop of the 20th Anniversary of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), as well as being convened toward the end of the tenure of the current AUC Chairperson, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Retreat provided the relevant AU actors the opportunity to reflect, take stock and review the AU’s mediation strategies and preventive diplomacy efforts, with the view of determining their impact, suitability and effectiveness in the current context of evolving conflicts on the continent. It also sought to offer insight, learning, exchanges and debates on emerging policy and practice in the field of mediation and preventive diplomacy that can inform the Commission’s engagements under its next senior leadership. Underpinned in the discussions will be considerations on how the AU can further deepen women and youth inclusion in its mediation tracks.
The Retreat aimed to take stock of the AU’s achievements and leadership in preventive diplomacy mediation on the Continent. It aimed to create a space for comprehensive reflection on current AU-led or supported mediation, preventive diplomacy and other peace processes, including support to the implementation of peace agreements, in order to identify lessons learned and best practices to inform future efforts; to propose structured solutions to cooperation and operational management challenges facing Special Envoys, High Representatives and Special Representative; review emerging policy and practice in the field of mediation as it relates to inclusion, both from a gender perspective, as well as the role of actors at multiple mediation tracks, inclusive of women and youth; identify concrete and practical opportunities for improved coordination, collaboration and harmonization of mediation efforts with national, regional and international actors for enhanced impact, efficiency and effectiveness; and contribute to the mediation-related knowledge management capacities of the AU through documenting AU experiences in mediation and dialogue, towards informing and strengthening current and future interventions.
The Retreat is an interactive and informal gathering that reflected on enhancing the AU’s role in ongoing mediation and other peace processes in Africa. The format of the discussions at the Retreat allowed for an exchange of views between AU decision-makers, mediators and other relevant actors. The outcomes of the Retreat will be captured in a report that will be published as part of the AU’s Mediation and Dialogue Division’s knowledge management drive.
The Executive Director served as a discussant in Plenary Panel 2 on 25 October 2024 that reviewed the AU’s preventive diplomacy and mediation efforts, including challenges and opportunities, over the past decade. The session aimed to reflect and review the AU’s mediation strategies and preventive diplomacy efforts over the past decade, with the view of determining their impact, suitability and effectiveness in the current context of evolving conflicts on the Continent. It also looked at the various AU led mediation interventions over the years, reflected on the challenges faced due to the complexity of modern conflicts, and identified lessons learned and best practices. The discussants in the plenary session included H.E. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, the High Representative for Silencing the Guns and Chair of High Level Panel for Sudan; Professor Babacar Kante, a member of the AU’s Panel of the Wise and the former Vice President of the Senegal Constitutional Court; H.E. Ambassador Wahida Ayari, the AU’s Special Representative and Head of AU’s Liaison Office to Libya; and H.E. Ambassador Josephine Mayuma Kala, the AU’s Special Representative and Head of AU’s Liaison Office to Cote d’Ivoire. The session was moderated by Dr Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, Director of the AU’s Conflict Management Directorate.
The Retreat brought together senior AU representatives and its relevant Organs, the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms for Conflict, Prevention, Management and Resolution; senior officials and Special Envoys from the United Nations, the European Union, the Commonwealth, the League of Arab States, the International Organisation of La Francophonie, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and representatives of AU’s bi-lateral partners, non-governmental organisations and Think Tanks.
