By Ambassador Bankole Adeoye
The international community is in search of enduring solutions to contemporary complex challenges. Our world today is characterised by a multitude of interconnected crises. The geopolitical landscape is riddled with tensions, including the persistent conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the long-standing turmoil in the Middle East, especially the recent clashes between Israel and Hamas, various instances of armed violence across Africa, and the looming dangers of violent extremism and terrorism. Currently, the issue of climate change stands as the most pressing threat we face, as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and ecological degradation affect millions of lives.
Moreover, the landscape of global peace and security is further complicated by social and political turbulence, ranging from civil unrest to significant waves of migration.
The lack of regard for and failure to respect international law exacerbate the difficulties surrounding peace and security. The principles of international law and the UN Charter serve as essential cornerstones for maintaining global governance and order. Created with the aim of fostering peace, security, and collaboration, these frameworks are designed to steer the actions of states and address conflicts. Nonetheless, the growing contempt for the UN Charter jeopardises these aims and exacerbates global instability.
The principles of multilateralism and collective action, which are essential to the UN, face significant challenges. The shift towards unilateralism and altered power dynamics threatens to weaken global governance frameworks, consequently heightening international tensions. Over the past eighteen years, our multilateral framework has faced unparalleled challenges on a global scale since the end of the Cold War, resulting in rivalry rather than collaboration and a disintegration of the ties that once facilitated collective action.
Unilateral military actions, breaches of human rights, and noncompliance with international treaties are undermining our global standards, unsettling regions, and setting a dangerous example for others to emulate. Against this background, there is a new scramble for Africa.
The current landscape is influenced by a complex interplay of geopolitical, economic, and strategic elements, marked by fierce rivalry among established and emerging global powers, as well as multinational corporations, all vying for the continent’s abundant resources, strategic locations, and lucrative economic prospects.
The siting of military bases, diplomatic influence, and the utilisation of economic influence play crucial roles in shaping Africa’s progress and its interactions on the world stage. Much like during the Cold War, we are witnessing the effects of rivalry among external powers on our continent today. Today, as in the past, the alliances that have emerged from the scramble present a danger to our collective security and raise serious concerns, particularly regarding our commitment to maintaining peace and stability.
Achieving lasting peace and security requires a profound dedication to tackling the underlying issues that lead to conflict. This can only be accomplished through inclusive, fair, and transparent approaches, and the development of resilient systems.
Today, more than ever, the international community recognises the invaluable role of continental and regional organisations, and the United Nations has put in place more robust systems for partnerships for peace, security, and stability particularly with the African Union. Given its peculiar dynamics, a whole-of-continent approach is essential to tackle the pressing issues of peace, security, and stability in Africa. One crucial step is to strengthen national institutions to improve resilience. Collective security is predicated on individual security. The collective is only as strong as its today, more than ever, the international community recognises the invaluable role of continental and regional organisations.
Engage the business community to bolster the peace and security agenda. Robust national institutions create defined lines of authority, uphold laws fairly, and guarantee effective governance. members, and a weak link poses a collective risk to all. Robust national institutions create defined lines of authority, uphold laws fairly, and guarantee effective governance. These elements are vital for cultivating trust among citizens, encouraging harmonious coexistence, and fostering loyalty to the state—key components for developing resilience. The African Peer Review Mechanism and the Country Structural Risk and Vulnerability Assessment represent significant initiatives by the African Union, crafted in collaboration with member states to address risks and enhance resilience across the continent. These instruments facilitate national level introspection, and provide avenues for support when necessary.
Furthermore, it is crucial to cultivate and leverage the capabilities of our populace, especially the youth. Africa boasts a youthful demographic, and this is undoubtedly an advantage. The youth of today have showcased remarkable innovation and creativity across various domains, particularly in technology, digitisation, and entrepreneurship. This development has also been noted in the realm of governance. Young individuals are seizing the potential of technology and utilising it for meaningful change.
Third, engage the business community to bolster the peace and security agenda. Insecurity takes a toll on businesses. In nations where non-state actors hold considerable influence, businesses can face significant challenges as these entities create various hurdles in the business sector. It has been suggested that businesses are reluctant to allocate resources to regions where the likelihood of returns is uncertain.
However, when citizens recognise the advantages of investments, they will be inclined to protect them. The available evidence indicates that, although various reasons, including ideological motivations, act as catalysts for individuals engaging in violence, a significant portion of people are choosing to align with violent armed groups due to the financial incentives they offer. By generating job opportunities, corporations can bolster our initiatives aimed at stabilisation, post-conflict recovery, and reconstruction efforts.
We must harness the potential of our educational institutions and communities of practice. Policy oriented research is critical to harnessing emerging technologies to reduce risks and strengthen our resilience as a continent? While the potential of artificial intelligence is vast, it is accompanied by considerable hurdles that must be addressed. The ability of AI to sift through extensive data sets enables it to identify patterns, foresee possible conflicts, and suggest solutions grounded in historical trends and current information.
Through the improvement of early warning systems and the support of mediation efforts, AI empowers stakeholders to take proactive measures in conflicts, reducing the likelihood of escalation and fostering peaceful resolutions.
Nonetheless, we recognise the moral implications associated with AI. How can we guarantee the transparent and equitable use of AI, while honouring human rights and being mindful of cultural sensitivities? We must harness the potential of our educational institutions and communities of practice. How can we harness emerging technologies to reduce risks and strengthen our resilience as a continent?
As noted, our youth are already leveraging the digital revolution to their benefit. While the potential of artificial intelligence is vast, it is accompanied by considerable hurdles that must be addressed. The ability of AI to sift through extensive data sets enables it to identify patterns, foresee possible conflicts, and suggest solutions grounded in historical trends and current information. Through the improvement of early warning systems and the support of mediation efforts, AI empowers stakeholders to take proactive measures in conflicts, reducing the likelihood of escalation and fostering peaceful resolutions.
Nonetheless, we recognise the ethical implications associated with AI. How can we guarantee the transparent and equitable use of AI, while honouring human rights and being mindful of cultural sensitivities? Today, we have a constituency known as climate refugees. These are people forced to flee their habitual places of residence because of climate insecurity. The changes in weather patterns and freak weather conditions occasioned by climate change mean that our farmers, who are mainly dependent on climatic conditions, could benefit significantly from data-driven insights and precision agriculture techniques that provide relevant information tailored to their specific geographical region and soil conditions. Farmers are now empowered by cutting-edge technologies such as satellite imaging, weather forecasts, soil sensors, and predictive analytics, allowing them to make well-informed choices regarding crop selection and optimal planting times.
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By doing so, we will enable our farmers to adjust to evolving environmental conditions and market needs, thereby enhancing the resilience and effectiveness of our agricultural systems. Fifth is honing our tools to make our organisation fit for purpose. Our continent is in crisis, not because of a lack of effort. A thorough examination of our current architectures and frameworks for governance and conflict prevention is essential. The obstacles we face demand flexible solutions that empower our institutions instead of constraining them. However, it is important to recognise that the strength of member-state institutions is directly tied to the willingness of their member states to empower them. It is essential that we refine our tools to ensure they are effective and suitable for their intended use. It is essential to explore practical solutions that will gain the approval of member states, all while fulfilling our responsibilities effectively.
In conclusion, it is essential to emphasise that attaining peace, security, and stability in Africa requires a comprehensive strategy that tackles the underlying causes of conflict, fosters inclusive governance, and leverages both regional and international collaboration. It requires sustained efforts to empower youth, advance education, and foster economic opportunities while respecting human rights and promoting justice. Embracing diversity, strengthening institutions, and leveraging technology are critical. We can create the Africa we want if we provide a conducive environment that enables every individual to grow in a climate of peace, security, and stability.
Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner, for Political Affairs, Peace and Security
