Kenya has called on the African Union (AU) to designate 2030 as the Year of Peace, Security and Stability in Africa, seeking to renew continental efforts to end conflicts and strengthen peacebuilding.
The proposal was presented during the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on Strengthening Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, representing President William Ruto at the summit, said Kenya remains committed to promoting dialogue, mediation and African-led solutions to conflicts across the continent.
He said the proposed designation would help reinvigorate the AU’s Silencing the Guns agenda while creating renewed political momentum for addressing persistent conflicts.
Kenya calls for stronger continental peace mechanisms
African leaders at the summit discussed ways of improving the continent’s capacity to prevent and resolve conflicts, including strengthening mediation efforts, peace support operations and peacebuilding initiatives.
Mudavadi stressed the need for Africa to become better equipped to anticipate emerging threats and respond to crises before they escalate.
He also warned that political commitments must be backed by strong institutions and adequate resources if the continent is to achieve lasting peace.
The summit was led by Angola President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, the AU Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa, alongside Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye, the Chairperson of the African Union.
AU adopts plan to strengthen conflict response
The meeting resulted in the adoption of a Decision and Plan of Action on Strengthening Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.
The plan outlines measures aimed at improving the effectiveness of continental mechanisms dealing with conflict prevention, mediation and resolution.
The outcomes also reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to the Silencing the Guns initiative and its broader objectives of promoting peace, security, stability and development across Africa.
Kenya said the decisions provide an opportunity to move from continental commitments to practical action.
Mudavadi reaffirmed Kenya’s support for strengthening African-led approaches to preventing, managing and resolving conflicts.
Kenya backs stronger AU institutions
Mudavadi also highlighted the importance of strengthening the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA).
He called for better coordination between the AU, its member states and Regional Economic Communities to improve the continent’s collective response to security challenges.
According to Mudavadi, sustainable financing will also be critical to ensuring Africa’s peace and security institutions can effectively carry out their responsibilities.
The priorities are aligned with AU Assembly Decision 967 on Institutional Reform, which President Ruto has championed in his role as AU Champion on Institutional Reform.
Kenya has argued that stronger continental institutions are necessary if Africa is to reduce its dependence on external interventions and develop greater capacity to manage its own crises.
Mudavadi pushes for AU financial autonomy
The Prime Cabinet Secretary further called for stronger financing of the African Union to enhance its strategic autonomy and ability to implement its programmes.
He urged member states to support the progressive capitalisation of the AU Peace Fund, whose target is US$1 billion.
Mudavadi also called for diversification of African sources of funding and greater implementation of the 0.2 per cent import levy as a potential avenue for strengthening the Union’s financial independence.
Kenya’s proposal to make 2030 a Year of Peace, Security and Stability therefore comes alongside calls for institutional and financial reforms that would give the AU greater capacity to deliver on its peace and security commitments.
If adopted, the proposed 2030 designation would provide another opportunity for African states to renew efforts to address conflicts, strengthen mediation and build conditions for long-term stability across the continent.
