Tomorrow (18 November), the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) will convene its 1245^th session in a high-level, open format to address the theme, ‘Implementation of Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) and Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) Programmes for Consolidation of Peace, Security and Socio-Economic Activities: Challenges and Way Forward.’ The high-level meeting will be held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the 20^th anniversary of the PSC and the AU Commission’s annual PCRD awareness week, taking place from 18 to 24 November 2024.

The meeting is expected to commence with opening remarks by Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Francophonie, and Chairperson of the PSC for November 2024. This will be followed by a statement from Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security (PAPS). The agenda includes presentations from the AU Commission and the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (UNPBC). Key partners involved in DDR and PCRD programs, including the European Union, World Bank, and African Development Bank (AfDB), are also expected to contribute. Côte d’Ivoire, Angola, and DRC are slated to share their experiences in implementing DDR and PCRD programs.

The session will include an update on the progress of PCRD initiatives and programs. It will serve as a platform to share best practices and lessons learned from past and ongoing initiatives, identify challenges, and explore strategies to address them. The last time PSC received a briefing on PCRD activities was during its 1188^th session held in November 2023. Subsequently, the PSC considered the revised PCRD policy at its 1198^th session on 31 January 2024 for its adoption and submission to the AU Assembly.

The first segment of the session is envisaged to focus on activities and initiatives with respect to the AU PCRD. It was during the 37^th AU summit held in February 2024 that the AU Assembly adopted the revised PCRD policy. The updated PCRD Policy has nine pillars and is premised on the recognition of the interconnectedness of the different phases of peace/conflict from prevention to post-conflict. Bankole’s briefing is expected to focus on initiatives undertaken by the AU Commission over the past year in implementing PCRD programs in the continent. This may cover the convening of the AU High-Level Working Group on PCRD co-chaired by the Commissioner PAPS and the CEO of AUDA-NEPAD. In terms of funding of PCRD, reference is expected to be made to the assignment by the Peace Fund of specific allocation for PCRD activities. Apart from the recent trend in the outcome of PSC sessions of making regular reference to PCRD, the PSC also sought to integrate PCRD into peace support operations including in its decision on the mandate of the mission that will succeed the AU Transition Mission in Somalia.

Building on discussions from the 7th annual consultative meeting between the PSC and UNPBC on 15 October, a representative from the UNPBC may emphasise the importance of strengthening strategic collaboration between the two bodies. The engagement may highlight the need for a comprehensive joint action plan to facilitate cohesive and well-coordinated peacebuilding initiatives and underscore the opportunity presented by the upcoming 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review to enhance the operational frameworks governing their collaboration. Of interest for the PSC in respect to the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review is the preparation of a common African position similar to the AU did for the previous edition of the Review.

The second segment of the session will zoom in specifically on DDR, which is part of one of the pillars of the PCRD Policy, namely Security Governance. Bankole may emphasise the Commission’s capacity-building efforts for the implementation of various PCRD programmes, including DDR processes in conflict and post-conflict settings, as well as financial support. Specifically, he may mention the use of the Peace Fund’s Crisis Reserve Facility (CRF) to assist Member States in their peace consolidation efforts, including DDR. A notable example in this respect is the allocation of one million USD from the CRF in March 2024 to support the DDR component of the Pretoria Peace Agreement in Ethiopia, making Ethiopia the first Member State to benefit from the revitalised Peace Fund.

Speakers from the EU, World Bank, and AfDB may also highlight various peacebuilding initiatives they supported in the continent. The World Bank, in particular, may reference the launch of the fourth phase of the AU DDR Implementation Framework, a collaboration between the AU, UN, and World Bank, which will be implemented from 2023 to 2025, focusing on operational support, the preventive role, and the politics of DDR.

Another key aspect of tomorrow’s session will be a critical reflection on the challenges and the way forward for implementing DDR in Africa, drawing on the continent’s wealth of experiences. Several countries, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, DRC, South Sudan, CAR, and Mozambique, are among those that have undertaken DDR processes.

Africa’s evolving security landscape presents a major challenge for DDR and PCRD programs. Traditionally, DDR is implemented in a post-conflict phase following peace agreements and with cooperation among parties. However, today’s DDR programs face environments where these conditions are often absent. Conflicts have become increasingly fragmented, involving various non-state actors, criminal groups, and transnational elements that complicate comprehensive peace agreements. In the DRC, for instance, over 120 active armed groups, complex ethnic ties, and regional alliances create a unique challenge for DDR implementation. Moreover, terrorism has become a significant driver of insecurity, particularly in Central Sahel, and DDR does not take the same form in such context as in civil war types of conflicts. Countries in the Lake Chad Basin, such as Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon are called to apply DDR in relation to persons associated with Boko Haram and other armed groups in the region amid active conflict contexts.

Reintegration, though critical, remains the most challenging component of DDR. The reintegration phase requires substantial investment in skills training, job placement, and social reintegration support, yet these efforts are often insufficient or misaligned with economic realities. In the DRC, for example, a study indicates that only about half of demobilised individuals received adequate support, and delayed stipends further eroded trust. As a result, ex-combatants frequently relapse into violence. Experience from Cote d’Ivoire also shows the challenge in the reintegration process where the reintegration phase never fully materialised due to lack of adequate funding. As the UN Secretary-General in his 2022 report on DDR notes, reintegration efforts are often hampered by weak governance institutions and fragile economies, particularly in conflict-affected or protracted conflict zones. This is particularly relevant in Africa, where many conflicts have lasted for years, making it exceptionally challenging for individuals who have spent much of their lives in armed groups to reintegrate into civilian life.

Tensions can also arise between ex-combatants and host communities, particularly when economic benefits appear to reward former fighters, causing resentment. Combatants may feel motivated to stay armed if they derive income from illegal resources, as seen in cases where senior fighters have vested interests in conflict economies. Climate change is also recognised as a driver of recruitment into armed groups due to its impact on economic instability and livelihood insecurity. Limited political commitment is another major challenge to DDR programs considering that no successful DDR can be realised without political resolve and support from key centres of power for its success. This is further compounded by a lack of trust between governments and armed groups, which remains a persistent challenge, especially in regions with complex, multi-group dynamics such as Mali. These programs require extensive resources, yet securing reliable funding is often a struggle. In South Sudan, fund shortages, including the failure of the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) to allocate resources have hampered DDR efforts.

In light of these challenges, a shift in approach is essential. Contemporary conflict dynamics in Africa require non-linear and integrated responses. While DDR and PCRD interventions were traditionally sequenced and implemented in post-conflict settings, ongoing instability now demands that these processes be flexible enough to address conflict at all stages. DDR is no longer limited to post-conflict scenarios; it can be implemented during conflict escalation, in active conflicts, and as a conflict prevention strategy. Expectations for DDR should be carefully managed, as it is not a panacea for society’s political challenges. Indeed, as highlighted by the AU’s DDR Capacity Program, DDR initiative’s success depends on being anchored on and pursued as part of other security, socio-economic, and political reforms. As such, DDR should be seen as one component of a wider peacebuilding framework, all aligned within a comprehensive recovery strategy.

As conflicts become increasingly localised and violence escalates, particularly by non-state actors, Community Violence Reduction (CVR) strategies—gaining traction within UN policy circles—should be explored and leveraged into DDR efforts.

It is also of interest for tomorrow’s session to pay special attention to vulnerable groups, including women, children, and youth in DDR processes. Youth, particularly those aged 15-24, make up a significant portion of former combatants, but reintegration efforts often fall short of addressing their specific needs. Children associated with armed groups require tailored support, including education and mental health resources, while women, affected by gender-based violence and social stigmatisation, need various support including gender-sensitive psychosocial interventions, in line with the revised PCRD policy which includes a dedicated pillar to these segments of society.

The expected outcome of the session is a communiqué. The PSC may welcome the adoption of the revised PCRD policy by the AU Assembly and the official launch of the AU PCRD Centre in October 2024. It may underscore the need for enhancing the uptake on the part of member states and other stakeholders of the revised Policy for it to inform peace and security policy-making and PCRD interventions at continental, regional and national levels. The PSC may request the AU Commission to facilitate consultation for the development of the Common Position on the 2025 UN Peacebuilding Architecture Review and submit the draft for adoption by the PSC before the end of the first quarter of 2025. It may call for a shift in the approach to implementing DDR and PCRD programs, underpinning a non-linear and integrated framework. Specifically, the PSC could stress that DDR initiatives should be part of broader economic, political, and social reforms, highlighting that successful DDR requires coordination with complementary PCRD efforts such as SSR, arms collection, transitional justice, and reconciliation initiatives. Recognising the importance of adequate and predictable funding, the PSC may also underscore the need for a dedicated allocation from the AU Peace Fund to support these initiatives. The PSC may underscore the need to sustain the emerging practice to mainstream PCRD and DDR programs in all relevant country and thematic agendas of the PSC. The PSC may also emphasise the AU’s role in generating and sharing knowledge on the experience of African countries in designing and implementing DDR processes for identifying best practices and integrating lessons learned in future initiatives. The PSC may decide to convene annually the Kinshasa high-level meeting on the implementation of PCRD initiatives for reviewing and documenting experiences and lessons learned as part of the PCRD week.

Tomorrow (2 October), the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) will convene its 1234^th meeting to deliberate on the theme ‘Peace, Security and Development nexus in Africa: Bridging the gaps between policy and practice’.

There will be opening statements from Mohamed Gad, Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the AU and PSC Chairperson October 2024, and Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security. Ashraf Sweilam, Assistant Foreign Minister for African Multilateral Organisations is expected to make a remark. The session will also hear from Ahmed Abdel-Latif, Director General of the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding and Executive Director of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development; Nardos Bekele-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, African Union Development Agency; Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice-President, Intra-African Trade Bank, African Import-Export Bank; and Libakiso Matlho, Executive Secretary, African Union Centre for Post-Conflict Reconstruction.

The various peace and security issues on the continent are linked to development issues in more ways than one. As enunciated in the Constitutive Act of the AU, on the one hand ‘the scourge of conflicts in Africa constitutes a major impediment to the socio-economic development of the continent.’ On the other hand, promoting peace, security and stability is ‘a prerequisite for the implementation of our development and integration agenda.’ Buttressing this interlinkage between peace and security and development, the World Bank reported that a civil war costs the average developing country roughly 30 years of GDP growth, and countries in protracted crises can fall over 20 percentage points behind in overcoming poverty. It further estimates that by 2030, up to two-thirds of the world’s extremely poor may live in fragile and violent conflict settings.

This is one of the thematic issues that featured on the agenda of the PSC on several occasions. The first time the PSC had a session dedicated to this theme was at its 883^rd meeting whereby the PSC, in the communiqué it adopted, underscored ‘the importance of giving due consideration to the interdependence between peace, security and development, in order to ensure the effectiveness of all efforts aimed at conflict prevention, peacekeeping and the consolidation of peace in Africa.’ It also requested the AU Commission Chairperson to submit an annual report on the measures taken towards enhancing collaboration and coordination between departments within the AU Commission and AU Specialised Agencies on account of its recognition of the interdependent nature of peace, security and development. This theme was also featured during the 975^th meeting of the PSC.

Subsequently, the PSC held the Tangier Conference from 25 to 27 October 2022 in collaboration with four key partners in the development arena: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). It is to be recalled that, the 36^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union held on 18 and 19 February 2023, through Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.842(XXXVI) ‘Endorsed the Declaration of the First African Union Policy Conference on Promoting the Peace, Security and Development nexus in Africa – The Promise of Regional Integration adopted in Tangier, Kingdom of Morocco, in October 2022; and urged the AU Commission to implement its conclusions; in this regard, called on the partners of the Tangier process to scale up support for the implementation of the nexus projects.’

A major challenge for the peace, security and development nexus is the persistent divide between the peace and security and the development dimensions. As pointed out in the edition of Insights on the PSC on the Monthly Programme of Work for October, despite wide recognition at a normative level of the need for aligning peace and security policy action and development policy action as reflected in various meetings the PSC held on this theme, this is not translated into practice owing to various factors. These factors include, as outlined in our Special Research Report, ‘The growing threat of terrorism in Africa: A product of misdiagnosis and faulty policy response?’ (EN and FR), the inertia of existing practice in peace and security policy-making with its focus on peace and security tools, gaps in expertise, divergent working methods and lack of interaction between peace and security policymakers and those engaged in development policy making.

These persisting challenges to the nexus question require changes both at policy and operational levels. In a presentation of Amani Africa during a joint African Union and Aswan Forum workshop on the operationalisation of the humanitarian, peace and development nexus held on 1 December 2023, the dimensions of change to which reference was made include: a) a multidimensional analytical approach that goes beyond the narrow focus on peace and security indices; b) joint strategy that integrates the peace and security and development dimensions for informing peace and security policy making and development policy making; c) intervention  programming by either peace and security or development actors informed by joint analysis and strategy; d) a joint forum of peace and security and development policy makers for regular dialogue and exchange as vehicle for strategic coherence and operational coordination critical for leveraging the comparative advantage of both dimensions; and e) creating space for enlisting inputs and contribution from each other in each other’s decision-making process for advancing complementarity. Also, of significance is exploring avenues to build synergies between existing continental, regional and national frameworks for the operationalisation of the Peace, Security and Development Nexus.

At its 1055^th session held at the ministerial level, the PSC specifically called for ‘collaboration between the AU Commission, AUDA-NEPAD, African Development Bank and the broader international community to overcome socio-economic challenges and address human security.’ A major development in this respect was the launch of the AUDA-NEPAD Programme on Socio-economic development in post-conflict states. Bekele-Thomas is expected to flag this in her intervention. The establishment of the Africa Facility for Supporting Inclusive Transition (AFSIT) in collaboration with the UNDP is another practical example of translating the issue of nexus from policy discussion to policy practice.

Tomorrow’s meeting provides the Council with an opportunity to discuss the progress AFSIT has made in advancing the nexus issue in practical terms and the support rendered within that context to targeted member states of the AU. Additionally, the PSC may also draw on the aspect of the Tangier’s conference declaration which, along with the AU Assembly Decision (Assembly/AU/Dec. 817(XXXV)), called for a financial instrument designed to mobilise scalable and flexible resources via a Security-Indexed Investment Bonds to address the root causes of insecurity, enhance the capacity of formal institutions, and rehabilitate communities and infrastructure adversely affected by insecurity. This initiative is expected to be carried out via the Africa Development Bank. A recent development worth addressing by the Council is the signing of an MoU between the African Development Bank and partners to scale up support for the Security-Indexed Investment Bonds and the implication it might have for mobilising resources for programmes related to peace, security and development.

The session is expected to also draw on insights from the 4^th Aswan Forum conclusions. In this respect issues that may be highlighted, in the intervention of Abdel-Latif, include the connection highlighted in the conclusion between the reform of international financial institutions and peace and security, the emphasis it put on the need for focusing on conflict prevention and peacebuilding in the work of the PSC including through leveraging the role of peacebuilding bodies, the adoption of a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach and promotion of the role of trade and investment in unlocking Africa’s economic potential and in advancing sustainable peace and development.

The expected outcome is a communiqué. The PSC may reiterate the importance of giving due consideration to the interdependence between peace, security and development, in order to ensure the effectiveness of all efforts aimed at conflict prevention, peacekeeping and the consolidation of peace in Africa. In terms of bridging the gap between policy and practice, the PSC may call for the establishment of a forum that brings together peace and security policy actors and development policymakers in Africa for mainstreaming the nexus lens in respective processes and policy action. The PSC may also call for the need for adopting a multidimensional analytical approach that leverages the peace and security-specific analysis and the development lens. It may also underscore the need for integrating the development in the implementation of the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to silence the guns in Africa. It may also call for the activation of its call from the 883^rd session on the AU Commission Chairperson to submit an annual report on the measures taken towards enhancing collaboration and coordination between departments within the AU Commission and AU Specialised Agencies on account of its recognition of the interdependent nature of peace, security and development. The PSC may also underscore the need for leveraging the PCRD policy as an instrument for mainstreaming nexus particularly in deploying peacebuilding and post-conflict development interventions.

Tomorrow (29 February), the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) is set to convene its 1203^rd session to deliberate on the theme ‘connectivity: the path to strengthening peace in Africa’ at a ministerial level.

Nasser Bourita, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates of the Kingdom of Morocco and Chairperson of the PSC for February 2024 is expected to deliver opening remarks. This will be followed by remarks from Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS). Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General to the AU and Head of the UN Office to the AU (UNOAU) is also expected to make a statement. Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy; Albert M. Muchanga, Commissioner for Trade and Industry; Nardos Bekele-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD; Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank; and the representative of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) are also expected to make statements.

This session, being convened for the first time under the specific framing, offers a key opportunity for the PSC to shift focus from the traditional security-centric approach, which often proves inadequate in addressing the complex peace and security challenges facing the continent, to a holistic approach that underpins the peace-security-development nexus. The session also provides a platform for PSC Members to critically reflect on how various forms of connectivity—such as air, rail, road, and digital networks—can be leveraged as vital pathways for promoting regional integration, development, and ultimately, contributing to continental peace and stability.

Agenda 2063, Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future, highlights the imperative of regional integration as a key pillar in Africa’s pursuit of inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development. Aspiration 2 specifically emphasizes the need for Africa to develop world class infrastructure that criss-crosses Africa and which will improve connectivity through newer and bolder initiatives to link the continent by rail, road, sea and air, and developing regional and continental power pools, as well as information and communications technology (ICT). Agenda 2063 also outlines key flagship programmes aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting economic growth and development. These include: the Integrated High Speed Train Network, the Grand Inga Dam Project, establishment of a Single African Air-Transport Market SAATM, the Pan-African E-Network, and cyber security.

Moreover, in July 2012, the AU Assembly adopted the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), a continental roadmap aimed at advancing regional and continental infrastructure (energy, transport, ICT, and trans-boundary water resources) from 2012 to 2040. The overarching objective is to facilitate continental integration in Africa, promote socio-economic development and poverty reduction through improved connectivity. In this context, in addition to highlighting how enhanced connectivity could contribute to the peace and stability of the continent, PSC Members can use the session as an opportunity to hear from the AU Commission and Member States on the progress made in the implementation of flagship projects outlined in Agenda 2063 and PIDA, as well as regional and national infrastructural initiatives aimed at fostering continental connectivity.

Indeed, connectivity emerges as paramount for facilitating the movement of goods, services, and people across the continent, enabling increased trade and economic integration, ultimately driving economic development, poverty reduction, and advancing the path to peace and stability in the continent. The concept note prepared for the session rightly notes that connectivity contributes to both stimulating economic growth and reducing factors that can fuel conflicts, such as poverty, youth unemployment, and inequality. It further highlights that a stronger and more integrated economy can act as a stabilizing factor by mitigating tensions and conflicts related to poverty and employment.

Currently, Africa lags behind in overall infrastructure growth and connectivity, with significant costs to its economic potential. According to a report, transport prices in Africa are estimated to be 50 to 175% higher than global averages, consuming over 20% of foreign earnings. The poor infrastructure is projected to reduce productivity across the continent by as much as 40%, leading to an annual reduction of national economic growth by 2%.

Digital connectivity also plays a key role in Africa’s economic transformation. According to econometric studies conducted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), even a modest 10% increase in mobile broadband penetration across Africa could yield a 2.5% increase in GDP per capita. Moreover, elevating internet penetration to 70% has the potential to spark a 9% surge in job creation compared to current levels. In 2023, World Bank’s flagship report underscored these effects, revealing that in Nigeria and Tanzania, exposure to internet coverage for three or more years led to a notable 7% reduction in extreme poverty, while labor force participation and wage employment saw an uptick of up to 8%. Given that education is the AU’s theme of the year, the session may particularly emphasize how connectivity, both in general and digital connectivity in particular, could deepen peace and security by promoting enhanced education in Africa.

Over the years, Africa has made remarkable strides in enhancing connectivity. In this respect, the AU-AUDA-NEPAD first ten-year PIDA implementation report reveals the significant increase in transport, energy, ICT and transboundary water resource infrastructure in the continent over the last ten years. 16,066 Km of road and 4,077 Km of railways have been developed, meeting 52% and 14% of the 2040 PIDA target, respectively. In the energy sector, 3,506 Km of transmission lines were installed with 7 GW hydro-electric generation capacity, achieving 13% of the 2040 target. In addition, over the past two decades, the continent has witnessed an unprecedented surge in internet adoption and connectivity, outpacing global averages. According to the World Bank, Sub-Saharan Africa experienced a remarkable 115 percent increase in internet users from 2016 to 2021. Fuelled by these advancements, young Africans are leveraging cutting-edge technologies to launch innovative startups and address longstanding challenges across the continent. From the pioneering mobile banking services in Kenya to the life-saving medication deliveries facilitated by drones in Rwanda, Africa is witnessing a flourishing ecosystem of successful technological innovation.

Despite some positive developments, significant challenges persist. One such challenge is the lack of political commitment to allocate adequate resources for infrastructure investment. For instance, Amani Abou-Zeid highlighted during the recent Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, and Energy that African governments have only dedicated approximately 3.5% of their GDP to infrastructure development over the last 20 years. This pales in comparison to China and India, who respectively allocate 7.7% and 5.2% of their GDP to infrastructure. Furthermore, African countries allocate a mere 1.1% of their GDP to digital investment, significantly lower than the 3.2% average observed in advanced economies. These statistics underscore the critical importance of increasing infrastructure investments in Africa to fully unlock its economic potential and promote peace and security.

The other challenge is the low involvement of the private sector. This is particularly evident from PIDA ten-year implementation report where the contribution of the private sector amounted to only 3% of the necessary financing, which is USD 67.9 billion, for the implementation of first phase PIDA projects. Enhancing the private sector in the investment on infrastructure indeed requires establishing conducive and predictable policies and regulatory frameworks.

The expected outcome of tomorrow’s session is a communiqué. Among others, the PSC is expected to reiterate the intrinsic linkages between peace, security and development, stressing the need to prioritize a holistic approach to address the underlying causes of conflicts in Africa. In this context, it may highlight the contribution of connectivity to both stimulating economic growth and reducing factors that can fuel tension and conflicts, such as poverty, youth unemployment, and inequality. Echoing the 4^th Ordinary Session of the STC on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, and Energy, held in September 2023, the PSC may emphasize the need for harmonizing strategies, strengthening cooperation and accelerating implementation of projects to facilitate access to modern, sustainable, climate-resilient and universal access to infrastructure services with the view to enhancing connectivity and achieving the goals of Agenda 2063. Furthermore, the PSC may specifically underscore the concept of the ‘Integrated Corridor Approach’, a multi-infrastructure corridor approach to infrastructure development that works toward a more prosperous Africa by emphasizing projects that maximize job creation and climate friendliness. Finally, the aspiration of Agenda 2063 to develop world class infrastructure that criss-crosses Africa and improve connectivity cannot be realized without commitment of huge resources. The PSC thus may underscore a need for leveraging Africa’s partnerships such as FOCAC, TICAD and the role of Africa’s financial institutions such as the African Development Bank and the building of public private partnerships as critical avenue for mobilizing funds.

Tomorrow (21 February), the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) will convene its 1201^st session to deliberate on the theme ‘peace, security and development nexus: follow-up to the Tangier’s conference’.

The session is expected to commence with opening remarks from Mohammed Arrouchi, the Permanent Representative of Kingdom of Morocco and Chairperson of PSC for the month of February followed by the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), Bankole Adeoye is also expected to deliver a statement. The meeting is also expected to receive statements from H.E. Ambassador Albert Muchanga, AU Commissioner for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry and Mining, statements from representatives of AUDA-NEPAD African Union Development Agency,  the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

This session comes as a follow-up on the commitments of the Tangier Declaration. The “Tangier Process,” an AU Conference focusing on the nexus between Peace, Security and Development, takes place annually in October in Tangier, Kingdom of Morocco. The conference is primarily attended by the 15 members of the AU PSC, although other member states may be invited on a case-by-case basis, subject to mutual agreement among all partners and the host country. The conference collaborates closely with four key partners: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). The main goal is to put into action development policies, with a focus on large-scale initiatives known as “nexus projects,” across African nations, regions and border areas.

The 2022 Tangier Conference, held from 25 to 27 October conference served as a platform for policy and decision makers, as well as peace, security and development practitioners, to explore ways to advance the AU-led strategic partnerships. The focus was on building peace, resilience and prosperity on the continent. Through the adoption of the ‘Tangier Declaration’, which was considered to outline the key outcomes of the three-day discussions, thereby charting a path for enhanced engagement in delivering on the triple nexus while promoting regional integration, the binding document encapsulated the outcomes and commitments of the deliberations of the conference. The conference aimed to enhance synergies between development, regional integration, peace and security. It also sought to explore mechanisms to respond to the complex security challenges facing African development. In addition, the conference offered a unique opportunity for the policy development and knowledge communities to exchange views on the practical implementation of the triple nexus: peace, security and development. It also launched new initiatives that seek to foster the effective delivery of the nexus.

The convening is held in line with the AU PSC communiqué, PSC/PR/COMM.1(DCCCLXXXIII) adopted during the 883^rd meeting held at ministerial level on 27 September 2019, in the margins of the 74^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, on “the Interdependence between peace, security and development: towards a collective engagement for action”, as well as in accordance to the commitment of the AU member states to realize the seven (7) Aspirations and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the frameworks of the AU Agenda 2063 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development respectively, with particular reference to Aspirations 1, 3 and 4 and Goal 16 relating to the promotion of peace, justice and strong institutions.

The previous session PSC convened on this subject was during its 1134^th session held on 27 January 2023 in which it adopted the Declaration of the AU Policy Conference on Promoting the Peace, Security and Development nexus in Africa, referred to as Tangier Declaration, which was later submitted for consideration and endorsement by the Assembly of the Union at the 36^th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government held in February 2023. It is against this context that the PSC is convening this meeting, as a follow-up to the 2022 conference. It should be noted that Morocco did not chair the PSC in 2023. However, during its last chairship in October 2022, it included this agenda item on the programme of work. The session comes a day after the conclusion of the 37^th AU Summit in which, among others, member states recognized the interdependence of these three elements, which is a key aspect of the AU’s Agenda 2063. Albeit regardless the significance of these interlinkage, the challenges in achieving socio-economic development, particularly through the full implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA) still hinder the full realization of this outfit. Member states also emphasized the need for preventive diplomacy, in line with the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps for Silencing the Guns in Africa, to effectively prevent, manage and resolve conflicts.

Tomorrow’s meeting is expected to give an update on the nexus between peace, security humanitarian and developmental programmes. In particular, the Tangier Declaration highlighted that the AU Member States, in coordination with the relevant RECs/RMs and the AU Commission and other Organs, to establish programmes of economic integration for border communities including internally displaced persons, refugees and migrants. Furthermore, in order to foster socio-economic development, the African Development Bank Group, the African Export-Import Bank, International Financial Institutions, along with the UN Agencies and other development partners were urged to step up efforts to identify financial options that minimize the high-risk premium associated with investments in Africa and leverage their positions and instruments to address the structural causes of conflicts in Africa, reduce growth volatility and consolidate development outcomes for a more secure and resilient continent.

During the 35^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union held on 5 – 6 February 2022, in Addis Ababa, there was a proposal regarding the need of a Security-Indexed Investment Bonds: a financial instrument aiming to mobilize scalable and flexible resources to address the root causes of insecurity, enhance the capacity of formal institutions and rehabilitate communities and infrastructure adversely impacted by insecurity. This convening will be a significant platform to get an update of the implementation of this mechanism in relation to implementation of the AU Assembly decision (Assembly/AU/Dec. 817(XXXV)).

Commissioner of the PAPS Department is also expected to give a statement on the state of peace, security and development in Africa. The situation of peace and security in Africa is a multifaceted issue, deeply connected with the wider subjects of development and governance. Recently, Africa has encountered substantial hurdles, with intense conflicts leading to forced migration and displacement. The detrimental impacts of climate change have put the livelihoods of millions at risk, particularly in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. The AU on the other hand possesses ambitious commitments and resources for mediation and peacekeeping, but it falls short in terms of political and financial capacity to fully leverage them. Regarding development, the just concluded AU Summit took decisive actions on the continent’s security situation as several member states continue to grapple with security issues. The reemergence of military coups, violence surrounding elections, humanitarian crises due to warfare and climate change effects were underscored as grave threats that could undo the progress made in the continent’s development agenda.

One key aspect of tomorrow’s deliberation is expected to be a follow-up on the UNDP and AU Commission’s PAPS Department establishment of the Africa Facility for Supporting Inclusive Transition (AFSIT), to prevent and effectively respond to unconstitutional changes of government, and other forms of complex political transitions in line with the Declaration of the 16^th Extraordinary Session of AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Malabo, in May 2022. In the same vein, it will be prudent for the meeting to have an update discussion on the operationalization progress of the Inter-Regional Knowledge Exchange (I-RECKE) on Early Warning and Conflict Prevention, which was jointly launched by the AU, RECs/RMs in July 2022 in Lusaka, Zambia, which called on all the stakeholders, as ‘Watchdogs’ of democratic governance, to use the platform designed to improve cross-regional learning on best practices, conflict prevention and resilience building against the propagating factors and triggers of conflicts especially ineffective governance, unconstitutional changes of government, terrorism, violent extremism and climate-induced insecurity.

In light of the above, the session is likely to address some of complex security challenges on the continent and identify mechanisms to respond to this. The deliberation is also expected to provide a platform to the PSC to chart a path for enhanced engagement in delivering on the peace, security and development nexus.

The expected outcome of the session is a communiqué. PSC may take the opportunity to emphasize the need to promote peace, security and stability as a prerequisite for the implementation of Africa’s development and integration agenda. PSC may highlight the significance of strengthening the synergies between AGA and the APSA through robust engagement between the AU and the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs). Council is also likely to welcome the renewed commitment of the AU to the Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) through its revised Policy framework. PSC may also urge all the African stakeholders and sponsoring partners to work collaboratively on a common nexus agenda-setting and prioritized programming covering the five (5) regions of the Union through operational triple nexus projects in member states.