SANF 24 no 39 by SARDC Writers
Africa is making significant progress in its quest for financial autonomy and ownership of its peace-making initiatives through a fund that aims to support continental efforts to silence the guns.
Established in 1993 and revitalised in 2018, the African Union (AU) Peace Fund serves as the financial backbone of the African Peace and Security Architecture, addressing critical needs in mediation, peace support operations and institutional capacity building.
With a focus on achieving self-reliance, the AU is now better positioned to tackle the continent’s pressing security challenges, including those faced by regional organisations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The AU Peace Fund was created by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) out of necessity, responding to the historical reliance on external funding for peace initiatives, which often hindered the effectiveness and ownership of these efforts.
For three decades, the fund faced numerous structural challenges, including an ineffective governance structure and a lack of clear assessment scales for member state contributions.
However, reforms over the past five years have established a robust governance framework, including the creation of an AU Peace Fund Secretariat and a board of trustees, aimed at ensuring proper fund management and fostering confidence among contributors.
A recent fundraising ceremony in Accra, Ghana, marked a turning point for the Peace Fund.
The AU had in 2018 set an ambitious target of raising US$400 million and as of 20 July 2024, the fund had reached US$398 million, primarily from member states.
According to the latest edition of the PSC Report published by the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies, the successful commitments from major stakeholders, including a notable pledge of US$210 million from the African Export-Import Bank, have elevated the fund’s resources to an estimated US$610 million.
This financial backing is critical for sustaining AU-led peace support operations across the continent, particularly in regions such as eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), northern Mozambique and the Sahel, where instability continues to threaten livelihoods and security.
To maintain its upward trajectory, the AU is looking for ways to capitalize on the momentum generated in Accra to encourage further contributions from Africa’s diverse and resource-rich private sector.
The focus by the AU on mobilising resources from the African private sector is a transformative step toward achieving a citizen-driven peace initiative where member states and individuals collaborate to address continental challenges.
Increased private donations, alongside the innovative financing mechanisms introduced during the Accra meeting, are expected to enhance the fund’s sustainability.
The AU is also exploring avenues for public donations and crowd-funding strategies to further bolster its financial capacity.
With the continent’s vibrant economies and emerging markets, there lies a vast potential for increased engagement from businesses and philanthropic foundations.
The ISS report was published as the AU Commission reported in late September the disbursement of US$7 million from the peace fund to strengthen various stabilisation efforts in regions where ongoing conflicts threaten continental stability.
According to the Director of the AU Peace Fund Secretariat, Dagmawit Moges, part of the funds will go towards supporting the transition process in South Sudan and the Sudan peace process through political dialogue and cessation of hostilities.
“The disbursement will also strengthen the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reinforce stabilisation efforts in the Lake Chad Basin through the Multinational Joint Task Force and assist Libya’s national reconciliation, dialogue and potential stabilisation initiatives,” Moges said.
“Furthermore, the funds will support Mozambique’s efforts to stabilise Cabo Delgado, as well as ongoing stabilization efforts in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in the Sahel region.”
SADC has been actively involved in addressing security challenges in the eastern DRC and northern Mozambique. In the DRC, armed groups continue to perpetrate violence, displacing thousands and exacerbating humanitarian crises.
The SADC Mission in the DRC has been pivotal in efforts to restore peace, with the AU’s new funding set to reinforce these operations and enhance collaborative security measures.
The AU’s financial support will strengthen local stabilisation initiatives aimed at restoring security and fostering community resilience against extremist threats.
This aligns with the AU’s broader agenda to “silence the guns” by addressing the root causes of conflict and promoting sustainable peace. sardc.net
