President João Lourenço, in his capacity as the African Union Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa and Chairperson of the African Union, called for greater harmony, unity and peace across the African continent on the occasion of the Day of Peace and Reconciliation in Africa.
African Sisters and Brothers,
On this January 31, dedicated to Peace and Reconciliation in Africa, I feel deeply honoured, in my capacity as the African Union Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa and Chairperson of the African Union, to address the worthy daughters and sons of Africa and convey my sincere wishes for harmony, unity and peace across our continent.
This commemoration reminds us of the importance of remaining committed to building a stable and peaceful Africa, where peace and reconciliation are permanent priorities, as envisioned in Agenda 2063, which embodies “The Africa We Want.”
This day is not merely a celebration; it is an invitation to reflect on the peace and security challenges that, unfortunately, continue to persist across our continent.
This exercise of profound reflection brings to mind some of the eminent pioneers of Africa’s freedom and independence, who were able to capture the aspirations of the African people. As Nelson Mandela said, “Reconciliation does not mean forgetting or trying to bury the pain of conflict, but that reconciliation means working together to correct the legacy of past injustice.” Likewise, Kwame Nkrumah reminded us that “Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world.”
These remarkable figures left us an enduring lesson: peace and reconciliation are both a moral duty and a strategic necessity. We will not be able to fully achieve them while our continent continues to face challenges ranging from coups d’état, terrorism and violent extremism to armed conflicts and community tensions, all of which undermine and seriously constrain our efforts to build progress, development and well-being for all Africans.
In the face of these challenges, I wish to emphasise today the urgency of never abandoning our determination to remain steadfast and mobilised in transforming vulnerabilities into strength, divisions into unity and threats into opportunities.
African Sisters and Brothers,
The African Union has the necessary mechanisms to provide appropriate and robust responses to the crisis situations referred to above. However, we must all converge our efforts and attention towards a common objective, working together in unity and cohesion to ensure the operational readiness and effectiveness of these mechanisms whenever they need to be activated to safeguard stability, peace and security — factors which, taken together, contribute to revitalising African economies and advancing the development of our continent.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Peace and reconciliation in Africa will become more lasting achievements whenever our societies strengthen awareness of the importance of mutual understanding among all people.
The active participation of women and young people is crucial, given their particular sensitivity to the consequences of conflicts and the fact that they are often among those most affected by them.
It is therefore essential that the voices of women and young people be heard. They have much to convey to politicians, government leaders and African societies in general about their perspectives on conflicts and their role in finding solutions to these challenges. To this end, our continent has the Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence in Africa.
The forum, also known as the **Luanda Biennale**, will hold its fourth edition next October, during which we hope to count on the active participation of the population groups mentioned above, given the central role they can play in contributing to the peaceful resolution of the disputes that continue to affect our continent.
The Luanda Biennale, jointly organised by the Government of the Republic of Angola, the African Union and UNESCO, is more than an event. It is a space where young people can express their aspirations, where women can share their experiences in mediation and reconstruction, and where our societies can learn to transform differences into driving forces for understanding, harmony, democracy, peace and development.
Thank you very much for your attention!