The Economic Cultural and Social Council of the African Union hosted a Cross Border Dialogue on peace, security and stability in the Sahel region, with African Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The dialogue was held under the framework of the European Union African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) IV Programme, jointly implemented with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), as part of ECOSOCC’s commitment to enhancing the participation of African Civil Society in the African Peace and Security Architecture.

Through a cross-border dialogue with CSOs on peace, security, and stability in the Sahel in support of the AU/G5 Sahel/Nouakchott process, the dialogue sought to enhance CSO capacity and participation in post-conflict reconstruction and development. It also served as a forum for cross-border dialogue between CSOs and key stakeholders on peace, security, and stability in the Sahel.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Ghana’s Coordinating Director for Multilateral Relations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ambassador Perpetua Dufu- representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana, Hon. Shirley Botchwey- commended the ECOSOCC Secretariat for convening the workshop at a critical time, given the continent's vulnerability to armed conflicts, terrorism, and violent extremism.

She urged delegates to fully apply themselves to the dialogue and continue to seek ways to support and advise African leadership on issues affecting the continent, noting that the impact of violent conflicts in Africa was far-reaching, as evidenced by the loss of lives and property, population displacement, and reversal of socio-economic gains.

“The situation in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, and the Lake Chad Basin are a complex mix of terrorism, violent extremism, and climate-induced conflicts that threaten the peace and security of the countries in the region," Amb. Dufu said. “These unrests continue to spread from one country to the next, spreading beyond their borders and gradually infiltrating West African coastal states."

Head of ECOSOCC Secretariat, Mr. William Carew represented by ECOSOCC Program Officer, Mr Bright Sefah, stated that the Sahel region remained a hotspot for instability and was a major concern on the continent due to the spill-over effects of instability in the region.

“This meeting is in line with the provisions of the constitutive Acts of the African Union of which article 3 calls for the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa, and Article 2 (4) of the ECOSOCC Statutes which calls for civil society support for policies and programmes that will promote peace, security and stability in Africa.'' he stated.

Dr. Chukwuemeka Eze, Executive Director of WANEP, expressed appreciation to ECOSOCC for the timely engagement with CSOs, particularly at a time where insecurity was ravaging the region, emphasising the importance of all stakeholders present at the dialogue, especially their collective role in ensuring peace and security in Africa.

Mr. Raymond Kitevu, Conflict Early Warning Expert, COMESA, commended the ECOSOCC Secretariat for the joint initiative and opportunity to collaborate with CSOs in the Sahel, Sahara and Western African regions working in the field of peace and security. He urged the participants to share their experiences and progress in addressing insecurity and instability in the region, as well as make viable recommendations necessary in addressing existing and emerging challenges in the field of peacebuilding.

The CSO dialogue is in support of the Nouakchott Process, which although has made significant and laudable progress in addressing and ultimately ending insecurity and instability in the region, still requires much work. Thus, a new approach is required, one that includes African Civil Society, particularly CSOs in the Sahel region and how they can collaborate with the AU to respond strategically to security issues through crisis/conflict management, conflict prevention, as well as post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding.

During the dialogue, the CSOs discussed key issues threatening the region's peace and security dynamics. Among the issues identified, were growing humanitarian needs, which add to the nature of insecurity. Furthermore, CSOs observed that as social services deteriorate and become more limited, many communities were becoming increasingly vulnerable. As a result, CSOs voiced out the need for AU member states to place a greater emphasis on bolstering Africa's development goals in order to achieve Agenda 2063 and rectify some of Africa's development issues.

The CSO cross-border dialogue concluded with key recommendations and a call to action based on representatives' experiences and lessons learned. In the context of peace and security, particularly in the Sahel, Sahara, and Western Africa regions, some of these recommendations included adopting an Afro-centric conflict prevention strategy, moving beyond sensitization to evidence-based advocacy, shifting away from solely relying on activism, and focusing more on engaging policies and policy-makers in order to inform peace and security efforts of governments.

In addition, CSOs advocated for increased measures to track and scale up best practices, called on AU organs such as ECOSOCC to increase efforts in documenting and highlighting CSOs and CBOs work on peace and security, as well as ensuring wide disseminated at all levels.

Finally, CSOs expressed a strong desire to work more closely with the African Union, inferring that greater measures should be made to engage CSOs in all aspects of the AU’s programs as well as for member states to build and strengthen trust between the state and civil society.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Ms. Carol Jilombo | Senior Communications Officer | AU ECOSOCC Secretariat, Lusaka, Zambia

E-mail: Jilomboc@africa-union.org

About ECOSOCC

The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) was established in July 2004 as an Advisory Organ composed of different social and professional groups of AU Member States. The mandate of ECOSOCC is to contribute, through advice, to the effective translation of the objectives, principles and policies of the African Union into concrete programmes, as well as the evaluation of these programmes.

Learn more at:  https://ecosocc.au.int

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