Your Excellency Ambassador António de Almeida Ribeiro, Acting Secretary General of the International Dialogue Centre,
Distinguished Representatives,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a privilege and honour to mark the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding between the African Union Commission and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), an important milestone in advancing our shared commitment to dialogue as a foundation for peace, stability, and sustainable development.
This Agreement reflects more than institutional cooperation; it affirms a common strategic vision: that inter-religious and intercultural dialogue is indispensable to conflict prevention, social cohesion, and the building of resilient, inclusive societies. In a global context marked by fragmentation and rising tensions, this partnership underscores the imperative of collective action to foster mutual understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among diverse communities.
Guided by Agenda 2063 “the Africa We Want”, and in particular Aspiration 4, a peaceful and secure continent—the African Union continues to advance peace, governance, and inclusive development. Central to this vision is the recognition that Africa’s diversity- religious, cultural, and social- is not a source of division, but a strategic asset for unity, stability, and shared prosperity.
This Memorandum brings into sharper focus key principles reflected in both our frameworks:
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The promotion of a culture of dialogue and tolerance as a primary tool for preventing and resolving conflict;
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The engagement of all stakeholders which include governments, civil society, faith-based actors, the private sector, and citizens in shaping sustainable peace;
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The empowerment of youth and women as central actors in dialogue, mediation, and community resilience;
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And critically, the need to translate normative commitments into practical, results-oriented cooperation through joint programmes, capacity-building, and knowledge exchange.
The formalization of this partnership provides a structured platform to scale ongoing collaboration, particularly through the Citizens and Diaspora Organizations Directorate and The Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) while ensuring that dialogue initiatives are anchored both at policy level and within communities. It further reinforces the importance of evidence-based programming, regular consultation, and coordinated action at national, regional, and international levels.
I would like to highlight on this occasion that this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is not the first between the African Union (AU) and KAICIID. Our cooperation dates back to 2016–2017, when initial collaboration began in the areas of dialogue and peacebuilding. This partnership was further strengthened in 2019 through the signing of an MoU, which formalized our cooperation in mediation, interreligious dialogue, and conflict prevention initiatives.
Equally, this cooperation reflects a shared determination to counter the misuse of religion and culture as drivers of conflict, and instead to harness them as forces for reconciliation, dignity, and human solidarity.
As we move forward, our collective task is clear: to ensure that this partnership delivers tangible impact, strengthening capacities, deepening trust across communities, and contributing meaningfully to the silencing of the guns and the realization of a peaceful, integrated Africa.
Allow me to express my sincere appreciation to the Director of CIDO and his team and to legal Counsel of the AUC for their efforts in bringing this Memorandum of Understanding to fruition. I also look forward to seeing concrete projects implemented on the ground and to further deepening our cooperation with KAICIID.
I would also like to express my deep appreciation to KAICIID for its continued partnership, as well as to all stakeholders who have contributed to this important achievement.
This Memorandum is not an endpoint, but a platform for actions anchored in shared values, mutual respect, and a firm commitment to advancing peace through dialogue.
I thank you for your attention.
