Communiqué of the 1163rd Meeting of the Peace and Security Council, held on 21 July 2023, on Community Responses to the Security Challenges in the Continent.

Abstract

Council Underscored the importance of holistic approaches in addressing the growing multi-dimensional threats, structural causes and drivers of conflict and all threats to peace, security and development in Africa. Council further encouraged Member States to always incorporate community dimensions in early warning and early responses, as well as in conflict prevention, management, resolution, peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery, stabilization and developments. The AU Commission was requested to (i) review the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), in order to adapt it to contemporary security challenges facing the Continent, (ii) develop an AU strategy for promoting community responses to conflicts in the Continent, (iii) implement the Declaration of the First AU Policy Conference on Promoting the Peace, Security and Development nexus in Africa, in line with paragraph 34 of Decision [Assembly/AU/Dec.842(XXXVI)] adopted by the 36th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Addis Ababa, from 18 to 19 February 2023. Council also Called for the establishment of a (i) forum on Women, Peace, Security and Development and, (ii) Group of Friends of the Women, Climate Change, Peace and Security Initiative. Finally, Council decided to dedicate one open session each year to consider community responses to security challenges in Africa.