Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu Calls on AU for Fresh Peace Funding Strategies

Nigeria has strongly advocated for the African Union (AU) to devise novel and sustainable funding approaches. These mechanisms are crucial for enhancing the continent's capacity to proactively prevent and effectively resolve conflicts, thereby lessening its over-reliance on external financial support. This appeal was made by Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, during her address on Saturday in Luanda, Angola.

The Minister participated in the 26th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, which focused on “Strengthening Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.” Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu commended the significant progress achieved in bolstering the AU Peace Fund. She highlighted that member states have collectively contributed approximately $350.2 million, which accounts for 87.5 percent of the initial target capitalisation of $400 million. Furthermore, she noted that the Fund's current balance has surpassed $405 million, with about $39 million already disbursed for critical interventions such as mediation, preventive diplomacy, peace support operations, and other peace and security initiatives.

Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged all AU member states to ensure they meet their assessed contributions. She also encouraged them to consider making additional voluntary contributions to further strengthen the Fund, emphasizing that such contributions are not merely financial obligations but vital investments in Africa’s shared security and sovereignty.

The minister issued a stern warning that African-led peace operations could face severe disruptions due to unpredictable funding, particularly concerning the substantial costs associated with personnel, logistics, equipment, and other operational necessities. Consequently, she championed a gradual shift away from dependence on external assistance towards greater self-reliance within Africa for financing its peace and security operations. She clearly stated, “External assistance should complement African ownership; it should not substitute for it. African resources should remain the foundation of African peace and security financing.”

Additionally, the minister called for the progressive capitalisation of the AU Peace Fund to achieve its ambitious $1 billion target. She also stressed the importance of more robust resource mobilisation efforts from African financial institutions, the private sector, and strategic partners. Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu further pressed for the full implementation of the 0.2 percent levy as stipulated under the Kigali Financing Decision and requested the AU Commission to actively explore supplementary innovative financing mechanisms that can generate predictable and sustainable long-term revenue.

Among the creative proposals presented was the voluntary allocation of strategically located land by member states. This land would then be developed by qualified private-sector companies and African multilateral financial institutions. The minister elaborated that mutually beneficial arrangements could allow the AU to earn annual royalties from such developments, simultaneously fostering investment, infrastructure growth, and stronger collaborations among African institutions and businesses. However, she underscored that any new financing mechanisms implemented must be firmly rooted in transparency, accountability, sound financial management, and effective oversight.

She affirmed, “Africa has the institutions, the financial capacity and the political vision to take greater responsibility for its own peace and security. What is required now is the collective political will to translate that capacity into action.” Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu reiterated Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to collaborative African efforts aimed at fostering peace and security, highlighting that a stable continent is indispensable for realizing the objectives of Agenda 2063 and building an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa. She concluded by urging, “Let us make the African Union Peace Fund not merely an instrument that we endorse, but an institution that we own, finance and sustain. Let us demonstrate through our contributions that African peace is an African responsibility.”