Former President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta has called for unity in Africa, making a case for peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms.
Uhuru spoke during a high-level retreat on the promotion of peace, security, and stability in Africa, held at the Sofitel Hotel in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The event brought together prominent African Union AU Commission leadership, Special Representatives, Heads of Regional Economic Communities and Mechanisms (RECs) and international envoys to discuss the future of conflict resolution and peace building on the continent.
The retreat focused on preventive diplomacy and mediation as vital tools in maintaining peace amidst emerging security challenges.
In his remarks, Uhuru emphasized the need for Africa to fund and support its own peace initiatives, underscoring the importance of African-led, sustainable solutions.
“If we truly want sustainable solutions that are African-born and led, we cannot do that if we are not in a position to back what we do through the resources that we generate,” he stated.
He urged African nations to work toward self-sustainability in peace processes, stressing that this approach is essential for achieving a peaceful and stable continent.
Kenyatta, a member of the AU high-level panel for Ethiopia and facilitator of the EAC-led Nairobi Peace Process, also praised AU chairperson Moussa Faki for establishing the AU Peace Fund, which aims to support peace operations and crisis response across the continent.
He highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, noting that Africa cannot realize true integration unless it addresses challenges related to ethnicity, religious conflicts, resource disputes, and climate change-induced conflicts.
“No individual country can deal with them. None of us is an island” Kenyatta emphasized, urging for a collective approach.
His call for unity reflected the conference’s theme, as leaders from diverse organizations and backgrounds gathered to assess the AU’s impact on peace and security and to explore new approaches to sustainable conflict resolution.
The retreat provided a platform for AU and global representatives to review past AU-led peace initiatives and exchange insights on improving the impact, effectiveness, and sustainability of future mediation efforts.
