Continent Seeks Faster Progress on ‘Silencing Guns’ with Algerian Chair

The African Union Peace and Security Council, under Algeria's presidency, recently convened a meeting to assess the progress of the AU's master roadmap for the "Silencing the Guns in Africa" initiative. This gathering also aimed to identify persistent challenges hindering the achievement of peace, security, and stability across the continent. Algeria's Permanent Representative to the AU, Ambassador Mohamed Khaled, underscored the strategic significance of the session, highlighting "Silencing the Guns in Africa" as a fundamental priority for the African Union and a core project within its Agenda 2063 framework.

Ambassador Khaled stressed that the meeting's purpose extended beyond a mere evaluation of the roadmap's implementation. He called for a reactivation of the initiative through tangible decisions and accelerated on-the-ground efforts. Emphasizing that continuous conflicts and security crises in Africa, despite various existing AU mechanisms, necessitate a change in approach, he urged a transition from mere commitments to effective and immediate actions. He further advocated for a candid assessment of progress, the identification of obstacles, and the formulation of practical recommendations to bolster implementation, declaring that "Silencing the Guns must be a daily goal, not an agenda postponed until 2030."

High-level representatives, including the AU High Representative for Silencing the Guns, Mohamed Ben Chambas, and the AU Special Envoy for Women, Peace and Security, Liberata Mulamula, along with a UN Office representative, contributed to the discussions. The African Union Peace and Security Council commended the ongoing efforts to implement the "Silencing the Guns" agenda, particularly in areas such as preventive diplomacy, early warning systems, regional cooperation, and peacebuilding initiatives. The Council also recognized the enhanced participation of women, youth, and civil society in these efforts.

While acknowledging progress, the Council voiced concern over persistent conflicts, terrorism, violent extremism, and illicit arms trafficking, as well as emerging threats related to cyberspace and artificial intelligence. It emphasized the critical need to bridge the gap between early warning and early action, strengthen preventive diplomacy and mediation, and address the root causes of conflicts through good governance, rule of law, and democratic institutions. Furthermore, the Council underscored the importance of securing sustainable and predictable African funding for the initiative and fostering partnerships with financial institutions, the private sector, and international partners to ensure the continued momentum of the "Silencing the Guns" agenda.