About Governance and Conflict Prevention

The Department of Political Affairs (DPA) is responsible for promoting, facilitating, coordinating and encouraging democratic principles and the rule of law, respect for human rights, participation of civil society in the development process of the continent and the achievement of durable solutions for addressing humanitarian crises.

Its key mandates and programmes include

• To contribute to the emergence of a political environment within and among African countries, as well as at the international level, that is conducive to bringing about sustainable development and accelerating economic integration.
• Promoting AU shared values;
• Implementing sustainable solutions to humanitarian and political crises, including through preventive diplomacy.
• Coordinating implementation of the African Governance Architecture and its platform;
• Promoting a Visa Free Africa through the Agenda 2063 initiative of The African Passport and Free Movement of People
• Coordinating AU election observation and monitoring missions;
• Providing technical support to the member states  electoral bodies;
• Serving as the Secretariat for the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on UN Security Council Reform
• Serving as the Secretariat for the Ministerial Committee on African Candidatures within the international system Promoting AU shared values;

The Department hosts the African Governance Architecture (AGA) Secretariat which is a platform for dialogue among stakeholders, and is the political and institutional framework for the promotion, protection and sustenance of democracy, governance, human rights and humanitarian assistance on the continent.

Structure

Commissioner for Political Affairs
Minata Samate Cessouma, Burkina Faso (elected January 2017)

Director: Khabele Matlosa (Lesotho)

Divisions

• Democracy, Governance, Human Rights and Elections (DGHRE)
• Humanitarian Affairs, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (HARDP)