At the time of its founding in May 1963, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) focused its efforts on supporting the struggle for national liberation from colonialism, racial discrimination and apartheid in Africa, as well as protecting Africa’s fledgling independence, where this had been won.

After the total independence of the continent in 1994, Africa had to change focus to address challenges of under-development and rampant poverty in a globalising world. Emerging challenges such as HIV/AIDS also required focused attention. It is in this context that in 2002, the African Union was born, following the adoption of the Constitutive Act by the African Heads of State and Government, and with it a renewed commitment towards the fight for peace, security and stability on the continent, in order to support Africa’s drive towards poverty alleviation, development, good governance and the respect for human rights.

The Peace and Security Council (PSC), which was launched in 2004, to facilitate timely and efficient response to conflict and crisis situations in Africa, and the development of institutional and normative frameworks, such as the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) bears testimony of the AU’s commitment to address peace and security issues on the continent. Furthermore, to address the root causes of conflicts in a holistic and systematic manner, the AU has adopted a number of instruments on human rights, governance, the rule of law, democracy, elections, disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation, terrorism, and good neighbourliness. These represent a consolidated framework of norms and principles, whose observance will considerably reduce the risk of conflict and violence on the continent and support the consolidation of peace.

While much has been accomplished since the launch of the AU and the subsequent establishment of the PSC, thanks to the collective determination and efforts of Africans, with the support of their partners, we are cognisant that many challenges still lie ahead. This is why the 2010 Year of Peace and Security in Africa represents such an important moment in time for Africa, and why we must all come together in solidarity to work towards the achievement of the objectives of this programme, in order to gain the necessary traction moving forward to attain peace permanently in Africa.

I invite you to join with the AU, to make peace happen in 2010 and beyond.

JEAN PING


Over the past twenty years, Africa has witnessed a number of long-term, severe and, partly, interrelated crises and violent conflicts. These have been caused by: ethnic and religious extremism; corruption; exclusionary definitions of citizenship; poverty and disease; the illegal exploitation of Africa’s renewable and non-renewable natural resources; and the phenomenon of mercenarism. This situation is aggravated by the illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons and the scourge of drug trafficking, which poses an ever increasing threat to peace and security in Africa.

The continent also continues to face the threats posed by terrorism and transnational organized crime. Furthermore, Africa has recently witnessed the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of Government, which represents a serious setback to the democratization processes. Mention should also be made of the emerging trend of election-related violence and conflicts, and the persistence of border disputes and conflicts. Of equal concern are the implications of climate change and its resulting consequences for our quest for peace and the efforts being made in this respect.

This is the backdrop against which African leaders committed themselves to working towards dealing decisively with conflict and its root causes, giving birth to the 2010 Year of Peace and Security in Africa. Understanding that the challenge of attaining sustainable peace and security is an undertaking of many years, African leaders sought to find a moment in time through which to build awareness, educate and empower the people of Africa and garner the necessary support for the long-term push for peace in Africa, beyond 2010.

African leaders have a role to play, but so do all Africans in their individual and collective capacities, everyone has a responsibility to ensure that the destiny of our continent is transformed, forever.
Will you be a part of the change we need in Africa, in 2010 and beyond?