The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, this morning officially opened closed-door consultation bringing together the Special Representatives, High Representatives and Permanent Representatives of the Chairperson.

The closed door meeting precedes the 17th High-Level Retreat of the Chairperson on the Promotion of Peace, Security and Stability in Africa in Libreville.

In his opening remarks, the Chairperson underscored that Africa must never remain an object of international relations, but rather a strategic actor shaping solutions to both continental and global crises.

He noted that, in a world increasingly characterised by geopolitical fragmentation, strategic competition and a weakening of multilateralism, the African Union’s political presence in the field and within multilateral fora has become a strategic imperative.

The Chairperson further called for stronger regional strategic frameworks, enhanced preventive diplomacy, closer engagement with the AU Peace and Security Council, and greater coordination of African diplomacy in key capitals and multilateral centres where the AU maintains representation, including Brussels, Geneva, New York, Beijing and Cairo.

He reaffirmed that, despite prevailing financial constraints, the African Union remains firmly committed to advancing peace, stability and the Silencing the Guns initiative, while ensuring that Africa speaks with one strong and united voice on the global stage.

The three-day Retreat will also feature the participation of the AU Panel of the Wise, as well as a dedicated session with the representatives of the Secretary-General of the United Nations working on Africa.