Communiqué of the 1258th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council, held on 31 January 2025, on the Third Commemoration of Africa Day of Peace and Reconciliation.

Abstract

The Council welcomed the 3rd Commemoration of the Africa Day for Peace and Reconciliation, emphasizing the need to promote peace, tolerance, justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation, especially in post-conflict communities. It underscored the commitment of all stakeholders to restorative justice, healing, and accountable governance, while commending President João Lourenço for his role as AU Champion for peace. The Council highlighted the importance of strengthening early warning systems, democratic institutions, and AU peace frameworks, including PCRD. It called for domesticating the commemoration at national levels, aligning it with the AU Transitional Justice Policy. The role of inter-generational dialogue, traditional conflict resolution, and peace education in fostering reconciliation was also stressed. Further, the Council urged enhanced cooperation among AU entities, Member States, RECs, civil society, and media in supporting peace efforts. It emphasized the importance of monitoring peace agreements, encouraged parties to conflicts to embrace dialogue, and reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable peace and political transitions in Africa while remaining actively seized of the matter.