Why Africa Must Rethink Its Peace Architecture Now?

During a policy dialogue specially focused on conflicts in Africa, held today in Addis Ababa, following the 39th African Union Summit, I reflected on a troubling question: Is Africa’s peace and security architecture still adequate for the scale of instability the continent now faces? Here are my main submissions to be considered by African leadership for the upcoming extraordinary Summit on Peace and Security, to be hosted this year by Angola.

Across Africa, what once appeared as isolated crises are now merging into a broader continental conflict belt stretching from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa, through Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and increasingly toward parts of coastal West Africa. These conflicts are complex and interconnected. Violent extremism, unconstitutional changes of government, transnational crime, communal tensions, and intensifying geopolitical competition are combining to reshape the continent’s security landscape.

A Peace Architecture Designed for Another Era

Over the past two decades, the African Union has built one of the most ambitious regional security frameworks in the world. The African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), including the Peace and Security Council, early warning systems, mediation mechanisms, and peace operations, was a major step forward in continental governance. Yet today’s crises look very different from those of the early 2000s. Conflicts are now more transnational, more politically rooted, and more intertwined with economic and environmental pressures. Military responses alone cannot address conflicts whose roots lie in governance failures, demographic pressure, economic fragility, and climate stress. So, in many ways, Africa is attempting to solve twenty‑first century crises with institutional instruments designed for another era. The decision by African leaders to convene an Extraordinary Summit on Conflicts later this year in Luanda therefore represents a critical opportunity, not just to discuss ongoing wars, but to rethink how Africa organizes its collective security.

The Structural Drivers of Conflict

Africa’s conflicts cannot be understood purely through a military lens. Governance deficits remain central. Weak institutions contested political transitions, and declining public trust in the state create fertile ground for instability. Youth marginalization is also reshaping political dynamics. Africa is the youngest region in the world, with roughly 60 percent of its population under the age of 25. Economic fragility and rising debt pressures reduce governments’ capacity to invest in social stability. At the same time, climate pressures are intensifying competition over land, water, and natural resources in fragile regions.

Taken together, these drivers show that peacebuilding must link governance, development, and economic transformation.

Africa in the Middle of Global Power Competition

Africa’s conflicts are increasingly shaped by external geopolitical dynamics. Global powers are expanding their presence across the continent as security partners, investors, or strategic competitors. The question is not whether Africa should work with international partners. The real question is who sets the strategic direction. Africa must remain firmly in the driver’s seat of its own conflict resolution processes.

The Return of Coups

Since 2020, Africa has experienced several military coups, concentrated largely in the Sahel. The African Union’s primary response, suspension from AU activities, has not been sufficient to deter unconstitutional changes of government. Africa therefore needs a stronger and more credible sanctions regime, including targeted political and financial measures and stronger regional coordination. Threats to constitutional order no longer come only from soldiers. They can also emerge through manipulation of constitutions and the gradual capture of democratic institutions.

Making the Extraordinary Summit Matter

The upcoming Extraordinary Summit on Peace and Security represents an important moment. But its success will depend on whether it avoids the trap of business as usual. Communities living in conflict‑affected areas, women peacebuilders, youth networks, civil society organizations, and traditional mediation structures must be included in the conversation. Across Africa, local communities possess rich traditions of mediation and reconciliation that should be integrated into continental peace strategies.

Preventing Conflicts Before They Explode

Preventive diplomacy remains one of the most underutilized instruments within the African Union system. Strengthening the political authority and operational capacity of the AU Commission could significantly improve the continent’s ability to prevent crises before they escalate.

Conclusion

Peace and security are no longer standalone policy domains. They are deeply connected to governance legitimacy, economic resilience, and geopolitical shifts. The upcoming Extraordinary Summit offers an opportunity to rethink how Africa organizes its collective security and rebuilds strategic agency in a fragmented world. Africa does not need incremental adjustments. It needs bold thinking, institutional renewal, and political leadership capable of confronting the new realities of instability on the continent.