Former President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the 15th High-Level Retreat on the Promotion of Peace, Security, and Stability in Africa at the Sofitel Hotel, emphasizing the critical need for Africa to take charge of its own peace initiatives.
The event, which gathered key figures from the African Union (AU), including Commission leadership, Special Representatives, and Heads of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), aimed to address the continent’s future in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The retreat put a spotlight on preventive diplomacy and mediation, essential tools in dealing with emerging security challenges on the continent.
In his address, Kenyatta highlighted the necessity for African nations to fund their own peace processes, stating,
“If we truly want sustainable solutions that are African-born and led, we can’t do that if we are not in a position to back what we do through the resources that we generate.” This call for self-sustainability in peace processes underscored the importance of African solutions to African problems.
Kenyatta, who serves on the AU High-Level Panel for Ethiopia and facilitates the East African Community-led Nairobi Peace Process, praised AU Chairperson Moussa Faki for establishing the AU Peace Fund, designed to bolster peace operations across Africa.
He stressed that the continent cannot achieve true integration without addressing challenges such as ethnic strife, religious conflicts, resource disputes, and the impacts of climate change.
“No individual country can deal with them,” he emphasized, advocating for a united effort.
The retreat served as a crucial platform for reviewing past AU-led initiatives and exploring innovative strategies for enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of future mediation efforts, promoting hope for a more peaceful Africa.
