The Ethiopian Delegation, led by Ambassador Hirut Zemene, Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the AU and UNECA, participated at the 12th High Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa (Oran Process) held in Algiers, Algeria, from December 1 to 2.
Keynote messages were delivered at the opening session by Ahmad Ataaf, Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad, and African Affairs of the Peoples’ Democratic Republic of Algeria; Tete Antonio, Foreign Minister of Angola and Chair of the AU Executive Council; Kacou Houadja Léon Adom, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire and Chair of the AU Peace and Security Council for the month of December; and Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission.
The high-level keynote addresses set the tone for the deliberations of the seminar by highlighting the importance of charting out Africa’s future in the face of a weakening multilateral regime, strengthening the capacity of the Union to balance between external sources of finance and domestic resource mobilization to address the needs of its peace and security objectives, and the importance of giving serious attention and devising a sound strategy to address the growing threats of violent extremism and terrorism as well as the trends in unconventional changes of government.
Ambassador Hirut, speaking on behalf of Foreign Minister Gedion Thimothewos, reiterated calls for navigating the course of the African common position in the changing global environment and emphasized the need to strengthen a stronger A3+ and AUPSC coordination to advance the continental peace and security agenda, including the effective way of resource mobilization for African-led peace support operations in times of dwindling funding from traditional sources. At the conclusion of the High-Level Seminar, she delivered a vote of thanks on behalf of the AUPSC member countries.
The 12th annual edition of the Seminar featured deliberations on the Global Landscape of Peace and Security in Africa, counterterrorism and violent extremism, taking stock of A3+ activities: lessons learned and the way forward, and AUPSC and A3+: a stronger voice for UNSC reform.
In the session that deliberated on the Global Landscape of Peace and Security in Africa, the seminar highlighted the growing challenges posed by rising geopolitical polarization, declining external assistance, and the emergence of new security threats across the continent. In this regard, the seminar emphasized the need for a unified and collective African response, anchored in the principle of ‘African solutions to African problems,’ to effectively address the evolving peace and security challenges.
In discussions on Counter-Terrorism and Preventing Violent Extremism, the Seminar noted that terrorism and violent extremism remain the potent challenge to continental peace and stability. It also called for a comprehensive approach that integrates security measures with efforts that address factors that enable terrorism to thrive.
During the session reviewing the activities of the A3+, the Seminar stressed the responsibility of African members of the UN Security Council to champion a coherent African common voice and to consistently reflect the decisions of the AU Peace and Security Council within the UNSC.
Regarding the role of the AUPSC and the A3 in advancing reform of the UN Security Council, the Seminar reaffirmed the critical importance of speaking with one voice and advocating for the full realization of Africa’s Common Position, as articulated in the 2005 Sirte Declaration and the Ezulwini Consensus.
The High-Level Seminar dubbed as the “Oran Process” is a yearly consultative forum held in Algeria that brings together outgoing and incoming members of the A3+ and the AUPSC. This year’s seminar has adopted a manual that will guide this important coordination between the two bodies.
The High-level Seminar aims at reinforcing coordination between the A3 and AU-PSC with the view of promoting Africa’s collective interest and position within the decision-making process of the AU and the UN in matters of peace and security concerning Africa.
Ethiopia participated in this year’s seminar in its capacity as a member of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, reaffirming its commitment as one of the key AU Member States that is regularly invited as a partner to the High-Level Seminar, including during times when it is not a member of the Council. The Ethiopian delegation also took part in the International Forum on Colonialism held a day before the High-Level Seminar.