Nigeria has called on the African Union (AU) to explore innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms to strengthen the continent’s capacity to prevent and resolve conflicts and reduce dependence on external funding.
The nation’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the call at the 26th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union in Luanda, Angola, convened on the theme, “Strengthening Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.”
In a statement by the Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Magnus Eze, Odumegwu-Ojukwu commended progress in strengthening the AU Peace Fund, noting that member states had collectively contributed about $350.2 million, representing 87.5 per cent of the original $400 million capitalisation target, while the Fund’s balance had exceeded $405 million.
She said the disbursement of about $39 million for mediation, preventive diplomacy, peace support operations and other interventions demonstrated the growing role of the Fund in addressing Africa’s peace and security challenges.
“We therefore call on all Member States to honour their assessed contributions and make additional voluntary contributions where possible, viewing these not merely as obligations but as investments in our collective security and sovereignty,” the minister said.
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The Minister stressed the need for predictable and reliable financing for African-led peace operations, noting that personnel, logistics, equipment and other operational requirements depended on sustainable funding.
Peace and Security
She urged the AU to gradually reduce dependence on external assistance and strengthen African self-reliance, while acknowledging the continued contribution of international partners to peace and security efforts.
“External assistance should complement African ownership; it should not substitute for it. African resources should remain the foundation of African peace and security financing,” the Minister emphasised.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also advocated progressive capitalisation of the Peace Fund towards its $1 billion target and stronger resource mobilisation from African financial institutions, the private sector and strategic partners.
She called for full implementation of the 0.2 per cent levy under the Kigali Financing Decision and urged the AU Commission to examine innovative financing options capable of generating predictable, long-term revenue.
Among the proposals was the voluntary provision of strategically located land by member states for development by capable private-sector entities and African multilateral financial institutions.
According to the Minister, mutually agreed arrangements could generate annual royalties for the AU while promoting investment, infrastructure development and stronger African partnerships.
She, however, stressed that any new financing mechanism must be based on transparency, accountability, sound financial management and effective oversight.
“Africa has the institutions, the financial capacity and the political vision to take greater responsibility for its own peace and security. What is required now is the collective political will to translate that capacity into action,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
The Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to collective African efforts, stressing that a peaceful and secure continent was essential to achieving the objectives of Agenda 2063 and building an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.
“Let us make the African Union Peace Fund not merely an instrument that we endorse, but an institution that we own, finance and sustain
“Let us demonstrate through our contributions that African peace is an African responsibility,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu reiterated.
