SADC Representative Sees Tana Forum as Platform for Actionable African Policy Recommendations

Addis Ababa, October 17, 2026 (ENA) —The Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa is an important platform for producing actionable recommendations to guide African Union (AU) and regional decision-making, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Permanent Representative to the AU, Ambassador Jevin Pillay Ponisamy, has told ENA.

The 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa, scheduled for October 23–25 in Bahir Dar, comes at a critical juncture when the relationship between political stability, economic sovereignty and global power competition is increasingly shaping Africa’s future.

Under the theme “Pathways to Peace in Africa: Economic Sovereignty and Geopolitical Transformation,” the forum will bring together political leaders, policymakers, researchers and security experts to explore ways to strengthen continental cooperation and turn shared priorities into practical action.

For Ethiopia, hosting the forum represents more than an opportunity to convene influential African voices. It reinforces the country’s contribution to continental diplomacy and provides a platform to advance dialogue on the structural challenges confronting the Horn of Africa and the wider continent.

Established in 2012, the Tana Forum has developed into a platform for examining Africa’s security challenges through African perspectives, bringing together diverse stakeholders to explore the causes of conflict and pathways toward sustainable peace.

Ponisamy underscored the importance of the Tana Forum as a valuable initiative in the Horn of Africa.

He emphasized the forum’s contribution to the broader work of the African Union.

“The Tana Forum contributes to the whole big body that we call the African Union. The other forums do it, but I want the Tana Forum to really make a difference,” he said.

He expressed hope that this year’s forum would produce practical recommendations that could be implemented and advanced through the AU’s decision-making mechanisms.

The ambassador stressed that the forum’s effectiveness depends on translating discussions among former heads of state, diplomats, researchers and think tanks into practical solutions that African institutions can implement to address the continent’s peace and security challenges.

He said recommendations on peace and security should be formally submitted to the AU’s relevant mechanisms, while those concerning infrastructure and other development priorities should be directed through the appropriate institutional frameworks.

Ponisamy described the Tana Forum as an important platform for experienced leaders, policymakers and researchers to exchange views on Africa’s security challenges and develop African-led responses.

By bringing together expertise and regional perspectives, he said, the forum can help shape policy priorities at both continental and regional levels.

The ambassador also commended Ethiopia for its efforts to strengthen the participation of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in events and institutional engagements hosted by the country.

He described his invitation to this year’s forum as a positive development, noting that he had advocated for the inclusion of regional communities for nearly three years.

Beyond dialogue and panel discussions, Ponisamy called for greater visibility, follow-up and accountability regarding the forum’s recommendations.

He emphasized that its impact should be assessed by the extent to which its proposals reach decision-makers and are translated into concrete measures.

He also recognized Ethiopia’s longstanding contribution to continental affairs, particularly its pivotal role in the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the predecessor of the AU.

Ponisamy underscored the forum’s potential to bridge continental policy priorities and regional realities, saying that systematically communicating its outcomes to relevant institutions would be essential to advancing practical responses to Africa’s peace, security and development challenges.

By bringing together diverse African stakeholders in Bahir Dar, the forum provides an opportunity to exchange perspectives on conflict prevention, regional cooperation and security challenges affecting the Horn of Africa and the wider continent.