By Admin
The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, has reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the AU’s Agenda 2063, emphasizing good governance, peace, and human security across the continent.
Seeking a second term, Adeoye presented his report card in Abuja, highlighting his transformative efforts since his election in 2021.
His tenure has focused on conflict prevention, counter-terrorism, and strengthening the AU’s role as a proactive force in addressing Africa’s security challenges.
Ambassador Adeoye explained that, he played a key role in facilitating the Ethiopia-Tigray peace process, which led to the landmark 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.
“Under my leadership, the AU has reinforced its zero-tolerance policy on unconstitutional changes of government, aligning with the mandates of the AU Assembly and the Peace and Security Council (PSC).”
The AU commissioner also spearheaded the integration of the African Charter on Democracy and Elections into educational curricula across member states and established a 10-member Advisory Panel on Democracy and Elections to enhance AU engagement in democratic processes.
He said his tenure also saw a revitalization of the AU’s election observation system, incorporating post-election preventive diplomacy and increasing the representation of women and youth to nearly 60% of election observers.
“In November 2022, we launched the Abuja Process to improve knowledge-sharing and the effectiveness of AU peace support operations (PSOs). We strengthened the AU-UN Enhanced Partnership Framework, fostering deeper collaboration on peace and security matters.
Ambassador Adeoye also highlighted that under his leadership the AU also prioritized a comprehensive approach to the peace-security-development nexus, ensuring engagement with stakeholders at national, regional, and international levels.
Additionally, he oversaw the adoption of a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the AU’s Master Roadmap on Silencing the Guns by 2030, reinforcing accountability and progress toward conflict resolution.
The operationalization of the African Standby Force has enhanced the continent’s ability to address conflicts effectively.
He said he also secured sustainable financing for AU peace operations through the AU Consensus Paper on Predictable Financing, contributing to the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2719 (2023).
Ambassador Adeoye further explained that the AU Peace Fund was operationalized under his leadership, with an initial allocation of $22 million dedicated to peace and security initiatives.
As he seeks re-election, Adeoye said he remained committed to deepening these initiatives and reinforcing Africa’s position in global peace and governance efforts.
