By Joy Omagha Idam
Nigeria has called on the African Union (AU) to develop innovative, sustainable and predictable financing mechanisms capable of strengthening Africa’s ability to prevent and resolve conflicts while reducing the continent’s dependence on external funding.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the call on Saturday at the 26th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union in Luanda, Angola.
The session, held under the theme, “Strengthening Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa,” focused on ways to enhance the continent’s capacity to address emerging security challenges and build sustainable peace.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu commended the progress recorded in strengthening the AU Peace Fund, revealing that member states had collectively contributed approximately $350.2 million, representing 87.5 per cent of the original $400 million capitalisation target.
She further disclosed that the Fund’s balance had surpassed $405 million, while approximately $39 million had already been disbursed to support mediation, preventive diplomacy, peace support operations and other peace and security interventions across the continent.
The minister described the development as evidence of the growing importance of the Peace Fund in addressing Africa’s security challenges.
“We therefore call on all Member States to honour their assessed contributions and make additional voluntary contributions where possible, viewing these not merely as obligations but as investments in our collective security and sovereignty,” she said.
She stressed that African-led peace operations require predictable and reliable funding to effectively provide personnel, logistics, equipment and other operational requirements.
According to her, uncertainties surrounding funding could significantly undermine the effectiveness of peace support operations and other interventions aimed at restoring stability in conflict-affected areas.
The Foreign Affairs Minister therefore urged African countries to gradually move away from over-reliance on external assistance and embrace greater financial self-reliance in addressing the continent’s peace and security needs.
While acknowledging the continued importance of international partners, she maintained that external assistance should complement, rather than replace, African ownership of peace and security initiatives.
“External assistance should complement African ownership; it should not substitute for it. African resources should remain the foundation of African peace and security financing,” she stated.
Push for $1bn Peace Fund Capitalisation
Odumegwu-Ojukwu advocated the progressive capitalisation of the AU Peace Fund towards its $1 billion target, alongside stronger resource mobilisation from African financial institutions, the private sector and strategic partners.
She also called for the full implementation of the 0.2 per cent levy under the Kigali Financing Decision, urging the African Union Commission to explore additional innovative financing mechanisms capable of generating predictable, long-term revenue for peace and security operations.
One of the innovative proposals put forward by the minister involves the voluntary provision of strategically located land by member states for development by competent private-sector entities and African multilateral financial institutions.
She explained that, under mutually agreed arrangements, such initiatives could generate annual royalties for the African Union while simultaneously stimulating investment, infrastructure development and stronger partnerships among African institutions.
However, she emphasised that any innovative financing arrangement must be firmly anchored on transparency, accountability, sound financial management and effective oversight.
“Africa has the institutions, the financial capacity and the political vision to take greater responsibility for its own peace and security. What is required now is the collective political will to translate that capacity into action,” the minister said.
Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting collective African efforts aimed at promoting peace, stability and security across the continent.
She noted that a peaceful and secure Africa remains fundamental to the successful implementation of Agenda 2063 and the broader vision of creating an integrated, prosperous and peaceful continent.
“Let us make the African Union Peace Fund not merely an instrument that we endorse, but an institution that we own, finance and sustain. Let us demonstrate through our contributions that African peace is an African responsibility,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated.
Nigeria’s position reinforces the growing call for African countries to strengthen domestic and continental financing for peace and security, ensuring that the continent possesses the resources required to respond decisively to conflicts and security threats without excessive dependence on external funding.
— Weekenders Magazine