On 06 March 2025 the Founder and Executive Director of ACCORD, Dr Vasu Gounden, participated in a commemorative plaque unveiling ceremony and the Martti Ahtisaari Legacy Seminar 2025. The seminar titled “Echoing a Legacy of Peace: President Martti Ahtisaari, Finnish Anti-Apartheid efforts in Southern Africa and the Future of Mediation, was hosted by the Finnish-based Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation. The organisation promotes global peace by mediating dialogue in conflict regions. The event took place at Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum in Pretoria, South Africa.
H.E. Martti Ahtisaari, the former President of Finland, was the founder of CMI. In 2008 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his leading role in bringing independence to Namibia, Serbia’s withdrawal from Kosovo, and autonomy for Aceh in Indonesia. Dr Gounden is a former Board member of CMI.
The President Martti Ahtisaari Legacy Seminar series aims to initiate and stimulate discussion about the future of peace mediation building on the living legacy of President Ahtisaari. To honour this legacy and his passing in 2023, CMI will collaborate with partners in select key regions and locations across the globe to reflect on his vision and its relevance in the contemporary era as well as in the future. In Southern Africa, President Ahtisaari is remembered for his role in the independence of Namibia. He served as Ambassador to Tanzania, serving at the same time as Ambassador to Mozambique, Somalia and Zambia.
ACCORD’s Senior Political Advisor, H.E. Ambassador Welile Nhlapo was part of the Panel Discussion which focused on H.E. Martti Ahitsaari’s legacy and the role of mediation and dialogue in the broader anti-Apartheid struggle. Dr Gounden was part of Panel Discussion 2 which discussed the future of mediation looking at issues such as challenges mediators face now and will face in the future, and lessons and experiences from Southern Africa. ACCORD Senior Researcher, Dr Andrea Prah, moderated this session during the panel discussion.
The seminar was preceded by a plaque unveiling of seven Finnish anti-Apartheid actors, including H.E. Martti Ahtisaari, whose names have been inscribed onto the Wall of Names at Freedom Park.
