AU cautions of rising conflicts in Africa

The statement was made by Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, Director of Conflict Management in the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the AU Commission, during a speech on Monday at a meeting on the theme of continental peace and security at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

“Africa has unfortunately witnessed an escalation of conflicts in regions such as the Horn of Africa, the Sahel and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,” Bah was quoted as saying in the statement.

The director stressed that such events “create voids that are exploited by terrorist groups and violent extremists, while external actors further destabilize our societies and hinder our progress towards lasting peace.”

Bah said the AU, faced with these challenges, has provided essential assistance to its conflict-affected member states to mitigate the impacts of conflict and instability. He called for concerted efforts to further strengthen peace and security initiatives on the continent, including the strong presence of the African Standby Force to respond to conflicts and emergencies across the continent.

Meanwhile, the Director highlighted the urgent need to address the negative impacts of current geopolitical tensions, which he said have further exacerbated peace and security challenges in Africa.

“Today's global landscape is fraught with geopolitical tensions, great power rivalries and a fragmented international order. Africa is not immune to these challenges, as we witness the rise of transnational threats that test the very fabric of our security architecture,” Bah said.