The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU) held its 670th meeting on 22 March 2017, an open session, dedicated to the theme: Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) in Africa.
Council took note of the statement made by the Acting Director for Peace and Security, on behalf of the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security. Council also took note of the presentation made by the AU Commission and by the Director of the Institute for Peace and Security Studies at the Addis Ababa University, Ms. Michelle Ndiaye. Council further took note of the statements that were made by the representatives of AU Member States, AU partners and international organizations.
Council recalled all its previous decisions and pronouncements on PCRD, in particular the Press Statement [PSC/PR/BR. (DXXVIII)] and Communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM. (DXCIII)] adopted at its 528th and 593rd meetings held on 30 July 2015 and 26 April 2016 respectively, which stressed the need for renewed efforts towards PCRD in order to consolidate peace wherever it has been achieved on the continent.
Council also recalled the 2006 AU PCRD Policy Framework as a mechanism to address the needs of countries emerging from conflict, prevent relapse into violence, prevent escalation of disputes, address the root causes of conflict, and consolidate sustainable peace.
Whilst commending the continued PCRD efforts deployed by the AU Commission in support of Member States emerging from violent conflicts and crises, Council acknowledged that the PCRD dimension remains the weakest link within the implementation processes of both, the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA). In this regard, Council stressed the importance of mainstreaming PCRD in the implementation of both architectures.
Council also acknowledged that the concept of PCRD is very broad and involves more than just peace and security issues. In this regard, Council re-emphasized the importance of addressing all PCRD issues in a holistic manner and reiterated its call for the PCRD Unit to be re-located from the Peace and Security Department to the Bureau of the Chairperson of the Commission, with a view, given its cross-cutting characteristics, to ensuring necessary continental level leadership, coordination, visibility and oversight on the implementation of all PCRD activities on the African continent.
Taking into account experiences, lessons, best practices, challenges and bottlenecks encountered, Council stressed that investing in PCRD contributes significantly in conflict prevention efforts. In this regard, Council underlined the importance of ensuring that, any support to PCRD activities should be tailor-made to suit the country-specific needs and, to be sustainable, it needs local ownership and leadership. Furthermore, they stressed the importance of inclusion of women, youth and other vulnerable groups in all PCRD efforts.
Council also underscored the importance of enhancing partnerships between the United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture and the AU PCRD Architecture.
Council agreed that a monitoring and evaluation mechanism for PCRD activities be undertaken by the AU; regularly consider post-conflict needs assessment situations and ensure that enough resources are mobilised for the African Solidarity Initiative (ASI).
Council also agreed to review issues relating to the re-activation of the PSC Sub-Committee on PCRD, as well as the AU Ministerial Committee on PCRD in Africa, with a view to providing the necessary oversight, political leadership and strategic guidance.
Council, once again, noted with concern the resource constraints being faced by the AU Commission in implementing the PCRD Policy. While re-affirming the need to mobilize additional resources from within the continent, particularly, from the African private sector, Council also reiterated the need for the relevant AU Policy organs to consider dedicating a percentage of the AU Peace Fund to support PCRD activities in the continent. Council underscored the importance of expediting the establishment of the AU PCRD Centre in accordance with Assembly Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.351 (XVI). In this regard, Council requested to expedite the ongoing consultations concerning the location of the Centre in order to reach a consensus in this regard as soon as possible.
Council further underscored the importance of emulating the best practices from those Member States which have successfully implemented their PCRD programmes and managed to sustain peace and stability in their countries.
Council urged the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention Management and Resolution (RECs/RMs) to take PCRD issues more seriously and comprehensively. Within this context, Council stressed the importance of RECs/RMs to adopt a systematic approach to PCRD as well as to establish appropriate PCRD implementation mechanisms with all necessary resources.
Council stressed the importance of close collaboration between the AU, the RECs/RMs and international partners in implementing the PCRD policy framework. In this context, Council commended all AU partners for their continued support to AU PCRD efforts.
Council reiterated its request to the Commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the AU PCRD architecture and submit a report, during the next briefing, on steps taken by the Commission in implementing Council’s decisions on PCRD.
Council agreed to receive quarterly briefings efforts being deployed by the AU Commission on PCRD.
Council also agreed to remain actively seized of the matter.