Ethiopian Informer
ADDIS ABABA (EI) — The African Union (AU) has warned that Africa’s peace and security environment is facing “increasingly complex challenges,” a situation that urgently demands strategic continental reforms.
The urgent call was made by AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, while addressing the 26th AU Executive Council Extraordinary Session on Saturday in Luanda, capital of Angola. The council’s meeting focused on the strengthening of mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution in Africa, the AU said in a statement.
The AUC chief warned that Africa’s peace and security environment faces increasingly complex challenges, ranging from the expansion of terrorism and violent extremism to internal crises, interstate tensions, and external shocks.
“Are we equipped to confront these challenges with the strategies, mechanisms and resources currently available? Is the African Peace and Security Architecture adapted to these circumstances? If not, Africa must urgently advance reforms,” an AU statement quoted Youssouf as saying.
Noting that “a purely security-based response to combating terrorism has shown its limitations,” he called for a holistic continental approach to combat the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism.
He emphasized the urgent need to establish stronger conflict prevention and early warning mechanisms, including high-level political engagement at the earliest signs of a crisis.
“Firmness against unconstitutional changes of government must remain essential, while also going hand in hand with dialogue,” Youssouf said. He also called for better coordination among the AU Commission, the Peace and Security Council, AU member states, and regional economic communities.
He further stressed that financing Africa’s peace agenda and the goal of Silencing the Guns by 2030 “can no longer depend primarily on external resources.”
Calling for a strengthened AU Peace Fund, he said, “political will remains the cornerstone of our collective efforts.”
Highlighting that greater vigilance, solidarity, and preparedness are essential as Africa navigates an increasingly turbulent geopolitical environment, Youssouf emphasized that the way forward must be guided by prevention, coordination, sustainable financing, accountability, and effective monitoring and evaluation.
According to the AU, the Executive Council’s extraordinary session reaffirmed African ownership of the governance, peace, and security agendas, as well as the importance of adhering to the principles and tenets of the Constitutive Act of the AU.Convened under the leadership of Angolan President Joao Manuel Lourenco, who is also the AU champion for peace and reconciliation in Africa, the Executive Council preceded Sunday’s Summit of African heads of state and government. The summit aims to undertake a strategic assessment of the effectiveness of existing continental mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution.
Cover photo shows the 26th African Union (AU) Executive Council Extraordinary Session that was held in Luanda, capital of Angola, on Saturday, August 29, 2026. (Photo Credit – AU)
