AU Chairperson Urges Africa to Turn Early Warnings into Conflict Prevention Actions

Addis Ababa, October 23, 2026 (ENA) — Burundi President and African Union Chairperson Évariste Ndayishimiye has called on African countries to strengthen conflict prevention, accelerate economic sovereignty, and prioritize dialogue over military confrontation.

He warned that delayed responses to emerging security threats continue to deepen instability across the continent.

Addressing the opening of the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa, President Ndayishimiye said ongoing conflicts in Sudan, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Sahel and the Horn of Africa demonstrate the urgent need for more effective African-led peace and security mechanisms.

He expressed concern over the devastating consequences of these conflicts, including mass displacement, disrupted education and the recruitment of young people into armed groups.

Africa already possesses continental early warning systems, peace and security institutions, standby forces and experienced mediators, but often fails to act quickly enough when threats emerge, he noted.

The AU Chairperson urged African leaders to close the gap between identifying potential conflicts and taking preventive measures, stressing that mediation must begin before violence escalates rather than after communities have suffered devastating losses.

Turning to the relationship between peace and development, he said Africa's dependence on exporting unprocessed natural resources, illicit financial flows and mounting debt undermine economic sovereignty and contribute to instability.

According to him, African countries must strengthen domestic processing industries, create employment opportunities and ensure that revenues from natural resources are invested in public services.

The AU Chairperson particularly emphasized the importance of youth employment and women's participation in peace negotiations as essential elements of sustainable conflict prevention.

He also called for predictable financing for African Union-led peace operations, stronger continental unity and greater economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Drawing on Burundi's experience of conflict and reconciliation, President Ndayishimiye stressed that lasting peace cannot be achieved through military victories alone, urging armed groups and conflicting parties across Africa to abandon violence and pursue negotiated settlements.

He further warned that geopolitical competition and emerging technological dependencies could expose African countries to new vulnerabilities unless the continent strengthens its collective voice and invests in digital infrastructure, innovation, and skills development.

The Chairperson called for greater solidarity among African nations, emphasizing that insecurity in one country can have far-reaching consequences for neighboring states and the wider continent.

Ndayishimiye concluded by urging participants at the Tana Forum to move beyond discussions and identify practical measures that can strengthen peace, economic resilience and regional cooperation.

He finally emphasized the importance of African ownership in shaping the continent's peace and security agenda.