Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné attends 21st extraordinary AU Summit in Angola

The summit focused on strengthening mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution in Africa. The opening ceremony featured speeches by Angolan President João Manuel Lourenço, who is also the AU Champion for peace and reconciliation in Africa, and the current Chairperson of the AU, Evariste Ndayishimiye. President Lourenço expressed confidence that the summit would lead to concrete measures for existing mechanisms, including political, diplomatic, financial, and institutional instruments, to prevent conflicts from escalating into wars.

President Ndayishimiye lamented that despite various instruments like the Peace and Security Council and the Continental Early Warning System, interventions often occur when situations are nearly out of control, urging a focus on the root causes of conflicts. Vice President Koné shared Côte d'Ivoire's vision, emphasizing the need to adapt AU mechanisms to be more reactive, coordinated, and aligned with current continental realities. He highlighted the importance of national ownership of conflict prevention instruments, enhanced coordination among the AU, Regional Economic Communities, and member states, and strengthened strategic partnerships with the United Nations, in line with Agenda 2063.

He also stressed addressing f