On 01 – 02 July 2022 the ACCORD’s Executive Director was invited by the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa (CoDA), based in Ethiopia, to participate in the round table meeting that was held under the theme,‘Counting the Costs, Stemming the Tide’. The meeting washeld at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Nigeria. H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is the Chair of the Board of Directors for CoDA.
The meeting arises out of concern about the prolonged security crisis confronting a large part of the Continent, and its spread to places that, up until now, were not affected by it. With the Continent faced with one form or the other of violent insecurity, and considering the huge cost, the AU and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have adopted measures to compliment national efforts, international interventions, and multinational initiatives, in order to find ways of controlling the problem. These measures have had their limits and the need for fresh thinking is growing. Participants at the meeting were therefore requested to take a fresh look at the roots of the security challenges facing the African continent, and the way in which they have mutated over time. They were also asked to reflect upon the different solutions that have been tried over time, and their relevance and efficacy. Beyond the mostly military solutions that have been pursued, options for other complimentary solutions, including political negotiations, administrative reforms, and social policy were also looked at for their potential to bring lasting solutions.
The Executive Director was asked to make a presentation as part of the session looking at the topic of ‘What Sub-Regional and Continental Organisations can do Better and Differently’.
The recommendations from the meeting are to be submitted to the AU for further consideration by the Heads of State and Government.
