Minister Ahmed Attaf Addresses Key Peace and Security Issues at AU-EU Meeting in Brussels

Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad, and African Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Attaf, attended the third meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) in Brussels.

This ministerial gathering provided an opportunity for a comprehensive assessment of the implementation of the outcomes from the sixth AU-EU summit held in February 2022. The agenda included discussions on four key topics: “Peace, Security, and Governance,” “Multilateralism,” “Achieving Prosperity,” and “People, Migration, and Movement of Persons.” These discussions aimed to explore ways to strengthen the partnership between the AU and the EU in these critical areas.

During the session focused on “Peace, Security, and Governance,” Minister Attaf highlighted three pressing issues that have become defining features of the African landscape in the realms of peace and security. He pointed to the alarming proliferation of hotspots, crises, and conflicts across the continent; the transformation of Africa, particularly the Sahel region, into a global terrorism hub; and the inadequacies of collective diplomacy in addressing the escalating situations on the African continent.

Minister Attaf emphasized the urgent need to revitalize the African-European partnership in the fields of peace and security. He called for this partnership to play a significant role in restoring the importance of diplomacy in resolving crises in Africa, supporting African Union peacekeeping operations, and investing more in stability through development. He underscored that such efforts are essential for achieving lasting peace not only in Africa but globally.