Oran, 09 December 2022: The African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the African Members (A3) of the UN Security Council held the Ninth Annual High-Level Seminar, at ministerial level, on Peace and Security in Africa, from 7 to 8 December 2022, in the coastal city of Oran, Algeria, with a commitment to the strategic objective of ‘one Africa, one goal’, initiative.
The High-Level Seminar, was organized just before Mozambique takes its newly elected non-permanent category seat, replacing Kenya. The Seminar examined strategies for strengthening coherence, cooperation and coordination between the AU PSC ad the A3 in discharging their respective mandates.
Chaired by H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, PSC Chairperson for the month of December 2022, the two-day seminar brought together Ministers, AU PSC Members, current and incoming A3 Members, Friends of the Seminar, UN, Development Partners, to collectively map the way forward in promoting a conflict-free Africa.
In declaring open the High-Level Seminar, H.E. Onyeama commended the A3 for promoting and articulating African common positions, interests and concerns on peace and security issues, in a more complex global political setting.
H.E. Ramtane Lamamra, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad of Algeria, as the host of the Seminar, emphasized Algeria’s firm conviction to uphold the values of unity and solidarity, while highlighting the contributions made by the ‘Oran Process’ in promoting the overriding goal of Africa speaking with one voice on the global stage, particularly within the UN Security Council. The Minister further stated that the Oran Process brought an added value in providing Africa promising prospects for coordination to achieve a strong African voice within the UN Security Council.
The AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, canvassed for a robust PSC and a strong and united A3, bound by close cooperation, effective coordination and inspired by the unwavering commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Continent, focusing on enhanced collaboration and effective interface; as he further called on the A3 to scale-up advocacy for the AU to gain access to UN assessed contributions for peace enforcement activities.
The last two-days afforded participants the opportunity to engage constructively on thematic issues, namely: Disarmament and Control of Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons: Silencing the Guns in Africa; African Responses to Emerging Threat to Peace and Security in the Continent – Addressing the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism in Africa; Imposition and application of sanctions by the international organizations and partners on AU Member States; and, strengthening Africa’s voice within the UN Security Council.
Recommendations were made on best means and ways to further enhance cooperation, coordination and collaboration between the AUPSC and the A3, as well as to further enhance the effectiveness of A3 in championing African interests in the UN Security Council.
In his concluding remarks, H.E. Onyeama expressed gratitude to the Government and People of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria for hosting the Seminar. He commended the A3 Members, namely Kenya (A3 Coordinator), Ghana and Gabon, and congratulated Mozambique on its election and pledged full support as it prepares to take its seat in the UN Security Council.
To date, nine (9) High-Level Seminars on peace and security in Africa have been organized and next year will mark the 10th Anniversary of the Oran Process. The Oran Process remains a vital platform to promote strategies towards sustaining peace in Africa through one voice for Africa and commonality of purpose driven by value-added partnership between the PSC and the UN Security Council.