Opening Remarks: The AU Technical Consultation to Strengthen Prevention Strategies and Regional Interventions across Eastern and
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:11
Opening Remarks: The AU Technical Consultation to Strengthen Prevention Strategies and Regional Interventions across Eastern and Southern Africa, Cape Town, South Africa, 20 – 23 April 2026, by Dr. Salvator Nkeshimana, Principal Officer, East and Southern Africa Regional Desk-African Union - Peace and Security Department
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Opening Remarks: The AU Technical Consultation to Strengthen Prevention Strategies and Regional Interventions across Eastern and Southern Africa, Cape Town, South Africa, 20 – 23 April 2026, by Dr. Salvator Nkeshimana, Principal Officer, East and Southern Africa Regional Desk
Last Updated on Tuesday 21 April 2026
Esteemed representatives of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), distinguished partners, and colleagues, good morning.
On behalf of the African Union Commission, and in particular H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and Madam Patience Zanelie Chiradza, Director, Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate and Acting Director, Conflict Management Directorate, I am pleased to warmly welcome you to this important technical consultation.
It is perhaps symbolic that we meet here in the beautiful town of Cape Town, the Legislative Capital of South Africa, at the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, symbolizing the convergence of currents, much like the coming together of the Eastern and Southern Africa regions in our work.
Listen to this article (Press F7)
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Esteemed representatives of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), distinguished partners, and colleagues, good morning.
On behalf of the African Union Commission, and in particular H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and Madam Patience Zanelie Chiradza, Director, Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate and Acting Director, Conflict Management Directorate, I am pleased to warmly welcome you to this important technical consultation.
It is perhaps symbolic that we meet here in the beautiful town of Cape Town, the Legislative Capital of South Africa, at the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, symbolizing the convergence of currents, much like the coming together of the Eastern and Southern Africa regions in our work.
Dear colleagues,
This meeting takes place at a critical juncture as we operationalize the merging of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Desks within the PAPS Department’s structure. This transition reflects a strategic shift towards greater coherence, integrated analysis, and more effective coordination across regions that are increasingly interconnected in terms of peace, security dynamics.
Indeed, many of the challenges we are collectively addressing, ranging from electoral-related tensions and governance pressures to cross-border insecurity, climate-related risks, and maritime security and safety, cut across regional boundaries and require coordinated and multi-level responses. In this context, strengthening collaboration between the AU and RECs/RMs is both necessary and urgent.
The timing and the need for this meeting is therefore clear and opportune. While engagement between our institutions remains active, technical coordination, particularly in conflict prevention, early warning, information-sharing, and translating analysis into action, still requires further strengthening. This platform thus provides us with an opportunity to align our approaches, enhance joint analysis, and clarify coordination modalities in support of more effective preventive action.
The main objective of this meeting is to promote a more coherent and coordinated regional approach to early warning and preventive action, and to reinforce collaboration between the AU and RECs/RMs to support Member States in addressing emerging risks at an early stage.
Over the next few days, we expect to:
Build a shared and updated understanding of risk trends and vulnerabilities across Eastern and Southern Africa;
Strengthening analytical collaboration and information-sharing mechanisms;
Identify priority areas and entry points for preventive interventions; and
Agree on practical, actionable steps to enhance coordination, follow-up, and impact.
Dear colleagues,
I would also like to underscore the importance of open and substantive technical-level engagement throughout our discussions. The AU–RECs/RMs Memorandum of Understanding of 2023 provides a clear framework for information-sharing, joint analysis, and coordinated responses between our institutions. However, the effectiveness of this framework ultimately depends on how actively we engage and exchange at the technical level.
I therefore encourage all participants to use this platform to share insights, data, and experiences candidly, so that we can fully leverage this framework and strengthen our collective ability to anticipate and respond to emerging risks and current challenges.
Ultimately, our collective responsibility is to ensure that our early warning systems not only generate quality analysis but also effectively inform timely, coordinated, and impactful preventive responses.
Before I conclude, I wish to express our profound appreciation to the German Government through the GIZ-AUPSG Support, for its steadfast technical and financial support to the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department of the African Union Commission and for continuing to accompany us as a valued partner.
I declare officially open our meeting.
I look forward to our constructive and productive deliberations and policy recommendations.
I thank you.
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Situation Room ICU
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abrahamk@africa-union.org
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Opening Remarks: The AU Technical Consultation to Strengthen Prevention Strategies and Regional Interventions across Eastern and Southern Africa, Cape Town, South Africa, 20 – 23 April 2026, by Dr. Salvator Nkeshimana, Principal Officer, East and Southern Africa Regional Desk
Last Updated on Tuesday 21 April 2026
Esteemed representatives of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), distinguished partners, and colleagues, good morning.
On behalf of the African Union Commission, and in particular H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and Madam Patience Zanelie Chiradza, Director, Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate and Acting Director, Conflict Management Directorate, I am pleased to warmly welcome you to this important technical consultation.
It is perhaps symbolic that we meet here in the beautiful town of Cape Town, the Legislative Capital of South Africa, at the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, symbolizing the convergence of currents, much like the coming together of the Eastern and Southern Africa regions in our work.
Listen to this article (Press F7)
comments
Esteemed representatives of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), distinguished partners, and colleagues, good morning.
On behalf of the African Union Commission, and in particular H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and Madam Patience Zanelie Chiradza, Director, Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate and Acting Director, Conflict Management Directorate, I am pleased to warmly welcome you to this important technical consultation.
It is perhaps symbolic that we meet here in the beautiful town of Cape Town, the Legislative Capital of South Africa, at the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, symbolizing the convergence of currents, much like the coming together of the Eastern and Southern Africa regions in our work.
Dear colleagues,
This meeting takes place at a critical juncture as we operationalize the merging of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Desks within the PAPS Department’s structure. This transition reflects a strategic shift towards greater coherence, integrated analysis, and more effective coordination across regions that are increasingly interconnected in terms of peace, security dynamics.
Indeed, many of the challenges we are collectively addressing, ranging from electoral-related tensions and governance pressures to cross-border insecurity, climate-related risks, and maritime security and safety, cut across regional boundaries and require coordinated and multi-level responses. In this context, strengthening collaboration between the AU and RECs/RMs is both necessary and urgent.
The timing and the need for this meeting is therefore clear and opportune. While engagement between our institutions remains active, technical coordination, particularly in conflict prevention, early warning, information-sharing, and translating analysis into action, still requires further strengthening. This platform thus provides us with an opportunity to align our approaches, enhance joint analysis, and clarify coordination modalities in support of more effective preventive action.
The main objective of this meeting is to promote a more coherent and coordinated regional approach to early warning and preventive action, and to reinforce collaboration between the AU and RECs/RMs to support Member States in addressing emerging risks at an early stage.
Over the next few days, we expect to:
Build a shared and updated understanding of risk trends and vulnerabilities across Eastern and Southern Africa;
Strengthening analytical collaboration and information-sharing mechanisms;
Identify priority areas and entry points for preventive interventions; and
Agree on practical, actionable steps to enhance coordination, follow-up, and impact.
Dear colleagues,
I would also like to underscore the importance of open and substantive technical-level engagement throughout our discussions. The AU–RECs/RMs Memorandum of Understanding of 2023 provides a clear framework for information-sharing, joint analysis, and coordinated responses between our institutions. However, the effectiveness of this framework ultimately depends on how actively we engage and exchange at the technical level.
I therefore encourage all participants to use this platform to share insights, data, and experiences candidly, so that we can fully leverage this framework and strengthen our collective ability to anticipate and respond to emerging risks and current challenges.
Ultimately, our collective responsibility is to ensure that our early warning systems not only generate quality analysis but also effectively inform timely, coordinated, and impactful preventive responses.
Before I conclude, I wish to express our profound appreciation to the German Government through the GIZ-AUPSG Support, for its steadfast technical and financial support to the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department of the African Union Commission and for continuing to accompany us as a valued partner.
I declare officially open our meeting.
I look forward to our constructive and productive deliberations and policy recommendations.
I thank you.
Posted by
Situation Room ICU
We use cookies on our website and mobile app to improve content display and
overall user experience. The cookies we use do not store personally identifiable
information nor can they harm your computer.
We intend to provide you with the right knowledge on-demand at the right
time and in the appropriate format to ensure that you engage the African Union
constructively in your specific role.
If you have any questions please contact directly PAPS Digitial Support Officer at
abrahamk@africa-union.org
COMMENTS
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