Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 2 September 2026 — The Chairperson of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) for the month of September hereby announces and calls upon all Member States of the African Union to commemorate the month of September as the Africa Amnesty Month.

This is in line with the African Union Assembly Decision: [Assembly/AU/Dec. 645 (XXIX)] adopted in 2017.

Africa Amnesty Month provides an opportunity for Member States to promote the voluntary surrender and collection of illegally owned and illicit small arms and light weapons, ammunition and other associated items, in accordance with applicable national laws and regulations.

The Amnesty initiative contributes to the African Union’s efforts to silence the guns, prevent armed violence, strengthen peace and security, and create conditions conducive to sustainable development across the continent.

The PSC Chairperson calls upon all AU Member States to commemorate Africa Amnesty Month through appropriate national and regional activities, including:

Public awareness and sensitisation campaigns on the dangers of illicit arms possession and trafficking;

-      Voluntary surrender and collection programmes for illegally owned small arms and light weapons and ammunition;

-      Community dialogue and peacebuilding initiatives, particularly in affected and vulnerable communities;

-      Engagement with traditional leaders, religious authorities, civil society, youth, women and other relevant stakeholders;

-      Strengthening national mechanisms for arms control, stockpile management, marking, tracing and the destruction of collected weapons; and

-      Sharing information on national commemorative activities and progress with the relevant African Union institutions.

Member States are encouraged to ensure that the commemoration is inclusive, community-centred and consistent with national legal frameworks, while safeguarding the rights and security of all participants.

The African Union Peace and Security Council reaffirms that silencing the guns by 2030, as a flagship program of Agenda 2063, requires sustained political commitment, effective national action and the active participation of all sectors of society.

Africa Amnesty Month is therefore an important opportunity to mobilize collective action towards a peaceful, secure and conflict-free Africa.

This year the PSC will commemorate the AAM in Algiers, Algeria under the theme “Advancing the Silencing the Guns Initiative and Strengthening Sustainable Peace through Shared Experiences on SALW Control and De-mining Action.”

The PSC Chairperson calls upon all AU Member States, AU organs, Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), international partners and civil society organisations to support and publicise the commemoration of Africa Amnesty Month and to contribute to the realisation of the objectives of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

 

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