COMMUNIQUÉ

Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1154^th  meeting held on 16 May 2023, on Mobilising African Stakeholders for effective mediation and preventive diplomacy – Briefing on the activities of the African First Ladies Peace Mission,

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling its previous decisions and pronouncements on women, peace and security,  and related themes, particularly Communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM.1144 (2023)] adopted at its 1144^th meeting held on 14 March 2023, Press Statement [PSC/PR/PS.1121 (2022)] adopted at its 1121^st meeting held on 11 November 2022, and Communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM.1106 (2022)] adopted at its 1106^th meeting held on 19 September 2022; and Press Statement [PSC/PR/BR.(CCCLXIV)] adopted  at its 364^th meeting held on 30 March 2010;

Determined, in accordance with Article 6 of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, to further enhance capacity in peacemaking, including the use of good offices, mediation, conciliation and enquiry;

Committed to the implementation of the landmark United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 [S/RES/1325 (2000)] on Women, Peace and Security adopted on 31 October 2000;

Noting the opening remarks made by H.E. Ambassador Rebecca Amuge Otengo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uganda to the AU and Chairperson of the PSC for May 2023, and the statement by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Further noting the briefing by H.E. Dr. Aisha M. Buhari, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), and the statement delivered on behalf of H.E. Angeline Ndayishimiye, First Lady of the Republic of Burundi and incoming AFLPM Chairperson; and

 

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council:

1. Welcomes the concerted efforts of revitalising the activities of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM), including the commissioning of the Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, on 9 May 2023; applauds H.E. Dr. Aisha M. Buhari, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and President of the AFLPM, for her leadership in revitalising the activities of the AFLPM in promoting peace and security on the Continent; and congratulates H.E. Angeline Ndayishimiye, First Lady of the Republic of Burundi, for her election during the 10th General Assembly of the AFLPM, as the incoming AFLPM President, to assume office on 29 May 2023;

2. Takes note of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the AFLPM and the AU on 8 May 2023 to further enhance efforts in advancing women, peace and security agenda in Africa, capitalising on the strategic position and role of the African First Ladies in society nationally, regionally and broadly on the Continent;

3. Underlines the importance of adopting a comprehensive and multidimensional whole-of-government and whole-of-society development approach aimed at addressing the root causes and structural drivers of conflict on the Continent, including prioritising preventive diplomacy efforts aimed at redressing the socio-economic imbalances that exist through establishing deliberate socio-economic programs aimed at economically empowering people, especially the women and youth to advance peace, security and development;
4. Underscores the need to consistently promote the meaningful representation and participation of women in decision-making processes in the prevention, management, resolution and transformation of conflict on the Continent to achieve durable peace; encourages Member States and Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) to facilitate inclusion, as well as equal representation of women in peace processes and all related peace and security mechanisms, as well as post-conflict reconstruction and development;

5. Stresses the need to further strengthen conflict management structures at regional, national and local government levels and the provision of capacity building for members of such structures on laws and policies that promote gender parity, women’s economic empowerment, conflict analysis, mediation, negotiation, conciliation, and peacebuilding broadly;

6. Emphasises the imperative for enhanced collaboration, cooperation, coordination and complementarity of efforts, leveraging on stakeholders’ comparative advantages for coherence and synergy of efforts;

7. Urges the AFLPM to redouble efforts in furtherance of the mission’s objectives, particularly embarking on advocacy work to popularise its mission and mobilising requisite resources for the optimal functioning of the AFLPM, including in its efforts towards addressing humanitarian situations in various contexts to provide relief to affected populations;

8. Encourages First Ladies of Member States, who are yet to do so, to consider joining this laudable initiative to further enhance peace activities and contribute towards the realisation of aspirations enshrined in Agenda 2063;

9. Urges the AFLPM to provide annual briefings to the Peace and Security Council on its activities and requests the AU Commission to facilitate the said briefings;

10. Requests the AU Commission to provide the necessary support towards the effective implementation of the mandate of AFLPM; and

11. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS