African Nations are working together through collaboration and synergy to achieve peace on the continent.
Members of the African Union Commission, African Union Peace mission, Regional Economic Communities/Mechanism, and experts have converged in Abuja, Nigeria to review the implementation of the AU Peace Support Operations (PSO).
The Inaugural Lessons Learned forum, is a review of the African Standby Force, (AFS) concept, to ensure it aligns with the African Union doctrine on PSO.
This is in line with identifying key lessons that can contribute towards its full operationalization in achieving peace on the continent.
At the inaugural forum, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, said that African leaders are working with partner organizations on the commonalities and differences and exploring the best way for Africa to strive.
“20 years after the adoption of the protocol establishing the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, we’ve continued to work with the African Union, recognize regional economic communities and regional mechanisms,” he said.
Amb. Adeoye further said that Africa remains the first responder to conflict situations. Therefore, Africa must reinforce its response mechanism from predictable sustainable financial models to military missions, police, and civilians better coordinated.
AU’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) Chairperson for the Month, Amb. Emilia Mkusa noted that the forum was critical to evaluate previous experiences of AU Peace Support Operations with a view to drawing lessons for future deployment.
“The forum presents us the opportunity to deliberate on emerging challenges and address the multitude of questions arising from the deployment and transition of Peace Support Operations as well as the way forward”. She said.
Workable models
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, urged the forum to evaluate the most workable models for peace and security interventions in Africa.
Mr. Onyeama said one model might not be suitable for all the peace and security issues on the continent.
“The Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF, model which Nigeria is extremely proud to be a leading part of, has significantly degraded the capacity of Boko Haram and its allied international terrorist groups in the region. There is thus a need to ascertain how the African Standby Force concept can benefit from either or from both the AMISOM model as well as the Multinational Joint Task Force model. How it can benefit from all of this to enhance its full operationalization and utilization”. He said
Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mr. Abdel Mousa said the ECOWAS is working in collaboration with the AU and partners on the ECOWAS Plan of action for the eradication of terrorism Accra Initiative.
The three-day forum will evaluate the role of AU PSC and the processes for mandating, authorization and/or endorsement as well as oversight of PSOs and ASF.
It will also implement the mandates and tasks as well as mission management and ensure strategic engagements and partnerships between the AU Commission, host States, and other strategic partners.
Olusola Akintonde
