The 2nd Ministerial High-Level Seminar of the #AU Peace and Security Council on Women, Peace, and Security - #SwakopmundProcess is currently taking place in #Cotonou, #Benin. The High Level Seminar was opened by H.E. Corinne AMORI BRUNET, Minister of Foreign Affairs of #Benin and Chairperson of the AU PSC for the Month; and H.E. Speciosa Naigaga Wandira Kazibwe, Former Vice President of the Republic of #Uganda delivered a Key Note addresses as the Guest of Honor. H.E. Amb. Mulamula, Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the #AU Commission on Women, Peace, and Security delivered the opening remarks followed by Ms. Doris, #UN Women Special Representative to the #AU and #UNECA. The Seminar welcomes the progress made in ensuring meaningful participation of women in governance, peace & security processes in Africa. Emphasized that quotas level the playing field and open the doors for women’s active presence and meaningful participation in the decision-making process, including in track one peace mediation processes.

Communiqué de presse: Commémoration du Mois d’Amnistie en Afrique – 2026 peaceau.org/fr/article/comme…

AU #PSC Sub-Committee on Counter-Terrorism held its 2nd meeting, chaired by Mr. Mohamed Lamine Nait Youcef, Expert, #Algeria. The meeting took note of presentations by Mr. Idriss Mounir Lallali, #AUCTC Ag. Director and by Mr. Colin Smith, Coordinator of the #UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. The meeting considered the preliminary #AU Draft Guidelines on Listing and Delisting of terrorist groups and individuals and organizations supporting them. The discussion centered on advancing a legally defensible, institutionally coherent and operationally realistic framework that significantly strengthens Continental counterterrorism efforts while upholding the rule of law, human rights, humanitarian space and Member State confidence.

The #PSC commended the @achpr_cadhp for its critical role in advancing peace, security and stability, and underscored the importance of integrating human rights indicators into the Continental Early Warning System (#CEWS) as early warning signals of conflict and crisis. - The Council called for non-politicization and national ownership of the human rights agenda as well as respect for the independence and sovereignty of Member States and underscored the importance of holistically addressing the root causes of conflict; scaling up mobilization of predictable and sustainable resources for the @achpr_cadhp to effectively fulfil its mandate. - It also stressed the importance of integrating human rights into conflict prevention, mediation, peace support operations and humanitarian action, with particular attention to vulnerable sections of society: women, girls, elderly and people living with disabilities. - Under a “One AU” approach, the #PSC decided to institutionalize a biennial meeting bringing together the #PSC, @achpr_cadhp and @court_afchpr to strengthen coordination and ensure greater coherence and complementarity in promoting human rights, peace and security across Africa. 2/ @ 1363rd #AUPSC Meeting Communique to be issued soon.

1363rd #AUPSC Meeting | Joint Consultative Meeting of the Peace & Security Council (#PSC) and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), focusing on : “Mutual Efforts to Enforce Respect for Human Rights as a Lever for Peace.” Ambassador Dr. Mohamed KHALED of #Algeria, #PSC Chair, highlighted the strengthening of cooperation between the #PSC and @achpr_cadhp; enhancing the role and contribution of #CSOs and#NGOs; and ensuring effective respect for and protection of human rights to prevent conflict, build peace and promote sustainable stability across Africa. Hon. Idrissa SOW, Chairperson of the @achpr_cadhp, stressed the importance of the consultations in strengthening cooperation between the two AU sisterly Organs in promoting human rights, and translate commitments into concrete actions that contribute to conflict prevention, peacebuilding and social cohesion across #Africa. In his Introductory Statement , delivered by Ms. @PatienceChirad3 Director for Governance and Conflict Prevention within @AUC_PAPS , Comm. @Bankole_Adeoye underscored the need to operationalize human rights as an active lever for conflict prevention, early warning, and peacebuilding. He called for stronger institutional synergy between the #PSC and @achpr_cadhp, with greater alignment across three strategic areas: integrating human rights considerations into early warning systems; institutionalizing human rights standards within peace support operations; and conducting joint fact-finding missions, particularly in areas facing heightened risks of conflict and human rights violations. He also reaffirmed the @AfricanUnion_’s commitment to a multi-pillar strategy focused on operationalizing the governance–peace–development nexus; enhancing peace support operations and response capacities to address violent extremism and armed insurgency; institutionalizing post-conflict reconstruction and development; and advancing inclusive peacebuilding. 1/

The 2nd Joint Consultative Meeting b/n #PSC - #PAP was structured around three substantive sessions: Session 1: Leveraging Parliamentary Diplomacy to Promote Peace & Security in Africa. Discussions covered: * Parliamentary diplomacy as a tool for conflict prevention & preventive diplomacy. * The role of women & youth in peacebuilding, mediation, and conflict prevention; and * The contribution of parliamentary diplomacy to the ratification and domestication of #AU peace & security instruments. Session 2: Presentation by the New Bureau of its Strategy to Promote Peace and Security in Africa. The second session provided an opportunity for the new Bureau of the @AfrikParliament to present its strategy for promoting peace & security in Africa. The discussion focused on: * Strengthening collaboration between the #PSC and #PAP. * Enhancing the role and effectiveness of parliamentary diplomacy. * Strengthening early warning & early action mechanisms. * Promoting democracy & good governance; and * Addressing the nexus b/n peace, security, and development. Session 3: Review of the Matrix for the Implementation of Previous Decisions and the Way Forward The third session reviewed the implementation matrix arising from previous decisions of the #PSC and #PAP. It considered progress made, identified priority actions, and discussed the way forward for strengthening institutional cooperation.

The PSC concludes its visit to Khartoum with an engagement with representatives of Sudanese political parties and civil society organizations. This meetinf underscores the AU's commitment to an inclusive, Sudanese owned and Sudanese led peace process as the foundation for sustainable peace. The discussions focus on national priorities for addressing governance and security challenges, as well as pathways towards an inclusive national dialogue

The #PSC continued its field mission to Khartoum where consultations were held with various stakeholders including, the authorities of the transitional government, namely: the Prime Minister ; the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Minister of Higher Education and Minister of Finance as the Minister of Mines, among others

The PSC paid a courtesy call to His Excellency President Abdel Fattah al Burhan, President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council at the Presidential Palace in Khartoum. During the engagement, the PSC reiterated the African Union's steadfast solidarity with the Sudanese people and its support for an inclusive dialogue that is owned by Sudanese stakeholders, aimed at restoring peace and stability in the country. The PSC reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to preserve Sudan's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

The #PSC continued its field mission to Khartoum where consultations were held with various stakeholders including, the authorities of the transitional government, namely: the Prime Minister ; the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Minister of Higher Education and Minister of Finance as the Minister of Mines, among others.

The Peace and Security Council of the @_AfricanUnion under the leadership of H.E. Amb. Mohamed Khaled, the Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of #Algeria to the African Union and the Chairperson of the #PSC for the month of August 2026, has arrived in Port Sudan on 15 August and in Khartoum, in Sudan, on 16 August 2026, to engage with Transition Authorities and other key stakeholders on the political, security, and socioeconomic and humanitarian situation in the country. The PSC field mission is an expression of AU solidarity with the people of Sudan and a reaffirmation of the AU unwavering commitment to continue supporting all efforts to find a lasting peaceful solution to the current challenges.

The #AUPSC also received a report by Colonel Bekkar Soltane, Defence Attaché of Algeria and Chairperson of the #MSC for August 2026, on the outcome of the #MSC meeting held on 6 August 2026 that was dedicated to consideration of the status of implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on the African Standby Force (#ASF). 2/ Communique to be issued soon. @ 1360th #AUPSC Mtg

The 5th African Union Continental Dialogue on Youth, Peace and Security and Forum on Women, Peace and Security under the theme, “Water, Peace and Inclusive Leadership in Africa: Institutionalising the strategic role of youth and women in conflict prevention, crisis management and sustainable peacebuilding through responsible resource governance”, has commenced at the Kiriri Presidential Palace in Bujumbura, Burundi 🇧🇮 with a keynote address by H.E. President @GeneralNeva as well as statements from Commissioner @Bankole_Adeoye, H.E. Amb. Mohamed Khaled of Algeria and Chairperson of the #AUPSC for August 2026, Amb. Marie Rose Quatre Antoinette, CEO of the African Peer Review Mechanism and the 5 @AU_AYAPs, among others, reiterating the importance of promoting, institutionalising, and implementing the #Youth4Peace and the #Women4Peace Agendas across the continent, including through strengthened partnerships and intergenerational collaboration. They also emphasised the importance of responsible and inclusive resource governance, particularly water, which is critical for sustainable development, peace and prosperity