Addis ababa: Angola has called for an urgent response to peace and security challenges across the continent, citing the persistence and increasing complexity of conflicts and the rapid evolution of threats, the country's permanent representative to the African Union (AU), Miguel Bembe, said on Wednesday.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the diplomat made the remarks during a press conference in his capacity as spokesperson for the 21st Extraordinary Summit of AU Heads of State and Government. He explained that the Summit, held under the theme 'Strengthening Conflict Prevention and Resolution Mechanisms in Africa', stems from a proposal by Angolan President and AU Champion for Peace, Joo Louren§o.
The initiative reaffirms Angola's diplomatic engagement and its role in continental affairs related to peace, security and development. The diplomat stressed the urgency of convening the Summit, citing a technical assessment by the AU Peace and Security Council that identified three structural drivers of instability on the continent. These include political factors linked to deficits in the social contract, conflict accelerators associated with the climate-technology-territory nexus, and geopolitical factors characterised by external interference and competition for strategic mineral resources.
He added that these challenges are compounded by the proliferation of transnational jihadist groups and networks, as well as unconstitutional changes of government across the continent. Miguel Bembe said the Summit seeks to promote a shift from a reactive approach to a proactive and structural strategy for crisis prevention in Africa. The meeting is expected to culminate in the adoption of the Luanda Decision, accompanied by an Action Plan and an Implementation Matrix, documents that will define objectives, targets, indicators, responsibilities and budget allocations for the implementation of the agreed measures.
During the press conference, Angola's representative to the AU advocated strengthening existing political and operational mechanisms for conflict prevention, management and resolution in response to a new generation of transnational, cross-cutting and fragmented threats. He identified limited coordination, inadequate funding and the political underutilisation of existing operational structures as some of the challenges facing the African Union.
The priority, he explained, is not the creation of new institutions but rather enhancing the capacity of existing mechanisms to anticipate, respond efficiently and deliver results through dedicated subsidiary structures. Among the AU's main instruments, he highlighted the Peace and Security Council, the Continental Early Warning System, the Panel of the Wise and the African Peace Fund.
According to Miguel Bembe, the Luanda Conference will provide a political platform to reaffirm African ownership of peace and security mechanisms, ensuring that crisis resolution is accompanied by measures for prevention, response and post-conflict reconstruction.
