African Union Convenes Extraordinary Summit in Luanda to Strengthen Conflict Resolution Mechanisms

Angola will host the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Luanda on 30 August, with a focus on strengthening mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution across the continent.

The summit will be preceded by the 26th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council on 29 August, bringing together foreign ministers and senior officials responsible for external relations from member states. These gatherings will provide a platform for political consultation on conflict prevention, the promotion of peace and stability, and the peaceful resolution of crises.

Holding the summit in Luanda reaffirms Angola’s commitment to African Union efforts aimed at promoting peace, security, and stability in Africa, as well as the objectives of Agenda 2063. Under the theme “Strengthening mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution in Africa,” the session is expected to deepen dialogue among member states and reinforce continental responses to peace and security challenges.

The meeting takes place at a critical juncture, as Africa continues to grapple with several unresolved conflict hotspots. These include the war in Sudan, the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the jihadist insurgency in the Sahel, and ongoing conflicts in the Horn of Africa and Mozambique. These situations have resulted in large-scale population displacement, humanitarian crises, and adverse effects on the stability of neighbouring countries.

In Sudan, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, has entered its fourth year and continues to generate a severe humanitarian emergency, with millions displaced and high levels of food insecurity. The crisis has also taken on a regional dimension, with repercussions extending to neighbouring states.

In the Great Lakes region, the situation in eastern DRC remains one of the continent’s principal security challenges due to the activities of the M23 rebel group and competition for control of territory and mineral resources. The violence has triggered further population displacement and heightened the risk of regional instability.

Meanwhile, jihadist armed groups remain active in the Sahel, particularly in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, while the Horn of Africa continues to face challenges linked to the insurgency in Somalia and tensions among states in the region. Mozambique also continues to confront armed violence in the province of Cabo Delgado.

Against this backdrop, Angola has assumed a prominent role in African efforts aimed at preventing and resolving conflicts, particularly in the Great Lakes region. President João Lourenço, appointed by the African Union as Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa, has led the Luanda Process, established to seek a political solution to the conflict in eastern DRC and promote closer relations between the DRC and Rwanda. The African Union itself has recognised Angola’s mediation efforts.

Angolan diplomacy has consistently advocated African-led solutions to the continent’s challenges, based on dialogue, mediation, and consultation among states. This approach has been reflected in Angola’s engagement in the Great Lakes region and its support for strengthening continental mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution.

In this context, the hosting in Luanda of the 21st Extraordinary Session places Angola at the centre of the continental debate on peace and security. The summit may provide an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of existing African instruments and discuss more coordinated responses to the conflicts that continue to affect the continent.

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