AU’s political affairs commissioner underscores need to strengthen conflict prevention, mediation in Africa

Amb. Bankole Adeoye, the newly elected African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AU-PAPS) has underscored the urgent need to strengthen conflict prevention and mediation in the continent.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Paschal Chem-Langhee, Communication Officer, Office of the Commissioner Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department in Addis Ababa, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Adeoye spoke after the swearing-in ceremony of the members of the AU Commission, which was presided by H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the Commission.

He said, “We must promote open, democratic and inclusive societies to empower our resilient communities, improve lives, socio-economic development, and human security,” in order to reap prosperity dividends in Africa.

He reiterated his plan to implement the new AU-PAPS structure, promote democracy, enhance inclusive and smart partnerships and strengthen capacities in peace operations and in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

In his vision to advance African positions globally, Adeoye said he would strategically engage with AU member states, specifically members of the AU Peace and Security Council and members of the Africa Group at the United Nations Security Council (A3), currently Kenya, Niger, and Tunisia.

He explained that this was to further pursue Africa’s strategic priorities at the United Nations (UN) Security Council, within other UN decision-making bodies, and with friends and partners of Africa.

Speaking to staff at the Julius Nyerere Peace and Security Building, Adeoye announced a plan to oversee the quarterly publication of a flagship knowledge product on the state of governance, peace, and security in Africa and to ensure the effective and efficient transition of the AU-PAPS in the context of the AU reforms.

He pledged to operate an inclusive, participatory and accountable system that would drive the implementation of AU’s institutional frameworks and mechanisms, in line with AU principles and policies, firmly anchored on the AU Agenda 2063 integrating the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA).

“I have an open-door policy and we must work in synergy as a formidable team to deliver on the African Union’s priorities to silence the guns and scale up the momentum to lead efforts towards peace, stability, security, and good governance in Africa,” Adeoye said.

NAN reports that Adeoye is the first diplomat to occupy the combined portfolio of Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security.

Adeoye, 61, is a graduate of the University of Lagos and the Oxford University.

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He joined the Nigerian Foreign Service in 1984 and served in various capacities both at home and abroad.

His last appointment was as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti as well as Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.