By Abiola Olawale
Eminent Scholar-Diplomat, former Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister and erstwhile United Nations Under Secretary-General, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari has weighed in on the raging issues of violent conflicts in Africa and the need to deploy appropriate mechanisms for deepening the prospects for durable peace Agreements and collaboration across Africa.
Gambari who was at various times Nigeria’s Ambassador/ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, New York, Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and African Union/Chief Mediator in Darfur, and President of the United Nations Security Council, postulated that a re-examination of the African Peace and Security Architecture is over due. “
He proferred, amongst other submissions: ” In this regard, a bottom-up approach that recognises and involves local authorities, sub-national groups as well as the private sector and professional groups are essential.”
Professor Gambari, who served as Chief of Staff to immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari, spoke at the Side Event Organized by Chatham House and UNDP at the 38th Ordinary Session, Assembly of the African Union(AU), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 14th, 2025.
The New Diplomat reports that the Scholar-Diplomat, during the meeting, shared his vast experience in international relations and African affairs and proposed appropriate mechanisms for addressing conflicts in Africa.
It would be recalled that the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council (Ministerial Session) took place on February 12-13, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, followed by the 38th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly on February 15-16, 2025.
The AU Summit in February 2025 focused on key themes such as “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations,” alongside discussions on Agenda 2063, peace and security, and sustainable development.
