By Salisu Sani-Idris
Amb. Bankole Adeoye, the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, has reiterated commitment to advancing the union’s Agenda 2063, with a view to promoting good governance and security on the continent.
Adeoye, who is seeking reelection for the second term, made the pledge in his report card made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
First elected in 2021, he said he has made transformative efforts in peace, security and governance, championing conflict prevention and counter-terrorism across Africa.
He added that “under my leadership, the African Union Commission’s (AUC) Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), advanced a transformative agenda for peace, security and governance across Africa.
“We also reinforced AU’s role as a proactive, unified force in addressing continental challenges.
“I championed pan-African ideals for effective governance, peace and stability with a view to realising AU’s Agenda 2063 and facilitated the Ethiopia-Tigray peace process, culminating in the landmark 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.”
The AU commissioner stated that the union advanced the operationalisation of the African
Standby Force, which enhanced Africa’s capacity for rapid response to conflicts.
He noted that AU had also secured sustainable financing for peace operations through the
AU Consensus Paper on Predictable Financing, contributing to UN Security
Council Resolution 2719 (2023).
On democracy, he reaffirmed the AU’s zero-tolerance stance on
unconstitutional changes of government (UCGs),
aligning with the union’s assembly and PSC mandates.
” We also promoted democracy by facilitating the
integration of the African Charter on Democracy
and Elections into educational curricula across
Member States.
” Similarly, we created a 10-member Advisory Panel on
Democracy and Elections to guide the AU’s
engagement with democratic processes across
the continent.
” We also revitalised the AU’s election observation system, incorporating post-election preventive
diplomacy and enhancing observer
training, with women and youth now
representing nearly 60 per cent of election observers.”
Adeoye said that in November 2022, under his leadership, AU launched the Abuja Process to facilitate knowledge
sharing and improve the effectiveness of peace support operations (PSOs).
” We revitalised the AU-UN Enhanced Partnership
Framework, strengthening cooperation between
the two organisations on peace and security.
” We adopted a comprehensive peace,
security, and development nexus
to engage stakeholders at national,
regional, and international levels.”
” We adopted a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework
for the AU’s Master Roadmap on Silencing
the Guns by 2030, driving accountability and
progress.”
The AU commissioner stated that the union advanced the operationalisation of the African
Standby Force, which enhanced Africa’s capacity for
rapid response to conflicts.
” And secured sustainable financing for
AU peace operations through the
AU Consensus Paper on Predictable
Financing, contributing to UN Security
Council Resolution 2719 (2023).
” Operationalized the AU Peace Fund, with an initial 22 million dollars allocated for peace and security
initiatives.
Adeoye is a diplomat, Nigeria’s ambassador to Ethiopia from 2017 to 2020 and permanent representative to the African Union.
Since February 2021, he has been the AU commissioner for politics, peacekeeping and security.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
