Commemoration of Africa Day of Peace and Reconciliation

Date | 30 January 2025

Tomorrow (31 January), the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) will convene its 1258th session where it will discuss the third commemoration of the ‘Africa Day of Peace and Reconciliation’ as an open session.

Following opening remarks by Ennio Maes, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire to the AU and Chairperson of the PSC for January 2025, Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), is expected to make a statement. Mr Domingos Miguel Bembe, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Angola to the African Union, may also provide a briefing on the efforts of Angola as the AU Champion for Peace and Reconciliation. Other members that may participate in the session include Lady Justice (Rtd) Effie Owuor, Judge of the Court of Appeals of Kenya and  Chairperson of the AU Panel of the Wise, Welile Nhlapo, Senior Adviser to the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) and representatives from the UNOAU and the RECs/RMs.

The Commemoration comes immediately after the end of the  ‘Madiba Nelson Mandela Decade of Reconciliation in Africa,’ which was declared to be from 2014 – 2024 and adopted through Decision [Assembly/AU/Dec.501(XXII)] by the 22nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union held on 30 and 31 January 2014 in Addis Ababa. We can also recall that during the 899th meeting held at the ministerial level on 5 December 2019, in Luanda, Angola, on the theme: ‘National Reconciliation, Restoration of Peace, Security and Rebuilding of Cohesion in Africa,’ in line with the Madiba Nelson Mandela Decade of Reconciliation in Africa, the PSC decided, among others, to ‘dedicate a session, once a year, aimed at experience sharing and lessons learning on national reconciliation, restoration of peace and rebuilding of cohesion in Africa; [a]nd to undertake a review of the implementation of the Madiba Nelson Mandela Decade of Reconciliation in Africa, based on the common African position on the review of the UN Peace Consolidation Framework to be developed by the AU Commission…’

On 31 January 2024, the PSC convened for its 1198th meeting, in which it adopted the communiqué for the second Commemoration of Africa Day of Peace and Reconciliation. Expressing concern over ‘the deterioration of State institutions, the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government and the outbreak of conflict in some Member States, including the growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism,’ Council underscored the importance of ‘justice in the reconciliation process as a fundamental pillar of peaceful and just societies’ and the need to ‘strengthen the pillars of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA) to adequately address structural and cyclical instability…’ The concern that the PSC expressed during its last session continues to persist into this year. Tomorrow’s commemoration comes amidst the deteriorating security situation in Eastern DRC and the raging war in Sudan. The commemoration may thus serve as a platform to galvanise support for the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes, with the aim of improving coordination and clarifying responsibilities among the involved parties, including DRC and Rwanda, to implement peace agreements. The focus may highlight elements of inclusivity.

Tomorrow’s session, therefore, will seek to get an update on the efforts of the AU Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in supporting regional peace process efforts. The Luanda Process for mediating between DRC and Rwanda has registered notable milestones. Several rounds of talks at technical and ministerial levels produced, most notably, the signing of a ceasefire agreement, although it has not, in the end, prevented the recent upsurge in violence and escalation of conflict in Eastern DRC. It should also be recalled that on 27 June 2023, Angola hosted the ‘Quadripartite Summit of the East African Community (EAC), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and Southern African Development Community (SADC),’ in Luanda. The Summit adopted the ‘Joint Framework on Coordination and Harmonisation of Peace Initiatives in Eastern DRC by the EAC, ECCAS, ICGLR, SADC and the UN under the auspices of the AU’ which seeks to promote coherence of the existing peace initiatives of the Quadripartite in line with the relevant instruments and decisions with a clear division of responsibilities and agreed timelines. Following this, on 6 October 2023, the AUC convened the First Quadripartite Meeting of the Chiefs of Defence (CDFs) of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the East African Community (EAC), the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as concerned countries of the DRC and the Republic of Rwanda on Coordination and Harmonisation of Regional Peace Initiatives in Eastern DRC. The meeting was convened to ensure coherence and harmonisation in the execution of existing peace initiatives in the region, in line with the decisions of the Quadripartite Summit held in Luanda on 27 June.

In this regard, fostering an inclusive reconciliation process that engages vulnerable groups such as women, youth and community leaders in alignment with the AU’s framework of ‘Silencing the Guns by 2030.’ Additionally, the humanitarian crisis, marked by widespread displacement and violations of human rights, may be underscored, with calls for enhanced humanitarian access and aid in conflict-prone situations. With the invitation of Lady Justice (Rtd) Effie Owuor as one of the presenters, the meeting is an opportunity to take stock of the AU’s achievements and leadership in mediation and peacemaking processes by highlighting the role of the AU Special Envoys, High Representatives, Panel of the Wise and other mediators in promoting dialogue, reconciliation and national healing. This is expected to culminate in proposing recommendations on enhancing cooperation and complementarity of efforts between the AU Champion, the PSC, the AU Commission and other actors on the Continent.

The expected outcome is a communiqué. The PSC is likely to applaud the efforts of H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola and AU Champion for Peace and Reconciliation, for his unwavering commitment to fostering peace and reconciliation across the continent and for mobilising support for conflict prevention and resolution. It may call on all parties involved in any cessation of hostility agreements to fully commit to the implementation of such agreements, fostering trust and paving the way for lasting reconciliation, as well as all the reinforcement of AU mechanisms, including the Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) frameworks and the Continental Early Warning Systems, to effectively address emerging conflicts and promote long-term stability. The council may also emphasise the importance of aligning the ‘Africa Day of Peace and Reconciliation’ with efforts to advance the implementation of the AU Transitional Justice Policy. The council may further highlight the imperative of further enhancing cooperation and complementarity of efforts between the AU Champion, AU High Representatives and Envoys, RECs/RMS and other actors on the Continent.