A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN CONTINENTAL PEACE-BULDING EFFORTS
Last week marked a pivotal moment in continental peace-building efforts. From September 3 to 6, the Thabo Mbeki Foundation hosted the 2nd Annual African Peace and Security Dialogue (APSD) at the Mount Grace Hotel in Magaliesberg, bringing together over 175 high-level leaders, policymakers, scholars, and civil society representatives for frank, solutions-oriented discussions on Africa’s most pressing security challenges.
Notable participants included, among others, H.E. Joaquim Chissano (former President of Mozambique), H.E. Prithvirajsing Roopun (former President of Mauritius), Ronald Lamola (South Africa’s Minister of International Relations & Cooperation), and Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Bantu Holomisa (Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, South Africa); Col. (Rtd.) Larry Gbevlo-Lartey (Ghana’s Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahel States); Wadah Khanfar (President, Al Sharq Forum); Amb. Welile Nhlapo; Prof. Cheryl Hendricks, Janah Ncube; Shuvai Busuman Nyoni, alongside regional voices such as Dr Enio Chingotuane, Amb. Matias Pires, Dr Agostinho Zacarias, and Gen. (Rtd.) Paulino Macaringue.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Particularly significant this year was the participation of 25 representatives from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), representing the full spectrum of stakeholders, including armed opposition groups, civil society organisations, government officials, and political opposition. This comprehensive representation from the DRC exemplified our commitment to inclusive dialogue that encompasses all parties to the conflict.
The Dialogue demonstrated our collective determination to address the numerous conflicts across Africa. From the Great Lakes to Sudan, we recognise that silence is not an option in the face of such urgent challenges and that these matters should be dealt with on the continent rather than in foreign capitals.
FOCUSING ON CRITICAL HOTSPOTS
Building on our successful inaugural 2024 Dialogue – which addressed West Africa and the Horn of Africa – this year’s gathering concentrated on the complex security landscape of Southern Africa and the Great Lakes Region.
Key areas of focus included:
- A comprehensive assessment of ongoing developments in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa.
- The persistent insurgency and conflict in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province,
- The deeply entrenched conflict in the Great Lakes, and in particular, the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The discussions went beyond surface-level analysis to examine root causes: governance deficits, historical grievances, resource competition, and systemic inequalities that fuel these conflicts. The goal was to understand these challenges in detail and forge pathways towards sustainable solutions.
METHODOLOGY: CREATING SPACES FOR DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS
The APSD operates on a fundamental principle: meaningful peace requires inclusive dialogue.
We deliberately designed this platform not as a formal negotiation space, but as a crucial place for semi-official and unofficial diplomacy, encompassing both formal and informal engagements.
WHAT MAKES OUR APPROACH UNIQUE:
- Inclusive participation: Government officials, civil society leaders, and non-state actors – including parties to active conflict – engage around the same table
- Open dialogue: We provide a platform for all parties to articulate their positions without prejudgment
- Trust-building: Our sessions help manage mutual mistrust and reopen channels of communication
- Evidence-based outcomes: Discussions inform policy decisions grounded in real understanding rather than assumptions
The tolerating of diverse opinions without championing any single cause is the hallmark of our approach; recognising that sustainable solutions emerge from genuine engagement rather than imposed consensus.
GUIDING VISION: PEACE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR AFRICAN RENAISSANCE
Our work is rooted in an unwavering belief that peace is the prerequisite for the African Renaissance. The APSD embodies the principle of “African solutions for African problems” – not as exclusionary rhetoric, but as a commitment to indigenous wisdom, local ownership, and continental solidarity.
We recognise that multiple stakeholders are involved in conflict resolution, and we don’t aim to replace existing initiatives. As our Patron, President Thabo Mbeki, stated in his closing remarks at the 2025 APSD,
We must bear in mind that we act within the context of other important organisations regarding the matter, like the AU, we are not acting in opposition instead, we are supporting the process and other efforts in this regard. We are not in competition.
“Our role, therefore, is to complement official processes by creating unique spaces for candid engagement that might not otherwise exist.
CONTINUING THE JOURNEY: OUR COMMITMENT MOVING FORWARD
While the 2025 APSD has concluded, our commitment continues. We will maintain active engagement with colleagues from Sudan, the Sahel, the DRC, and Mozambique to encourage ceasefires and establish dialogue channels. We harbour no illusions about quick fixes. Africa’s conflicts are complex, rooted in decades or centuries of accumulated grievances. Our commitment is necessarily long-term, patient, persistent, and people driven.
Looking toward the 2026 APSD, we will continue this model, focusing on two emerging peace and security hotspots while following up on issues addressed in previous Dialogues. We remain committed to facilitating engagement between conflicting parties—while the ultimate success depends on the parties involved, we believe providing this platform represents a crucial first step.
Commenting on the African Peace and Security Dialogue, Deputy Minister of Defence General Bantu Holomisa said:
The Foundation’s work has ensured that these issues are not treated as abstract or distant debates, but as urgent priorities central to South Africa’s peace, security, and prosperity. By placing Africa’s voice firmly in the context of global multipolarity, continental policy frameworks, and regional conflict ecosystems, the Dialogue has sharpened our understanding of the complexity of the task before us.
The APSD represents more than just academic discussion – it embodies hope for a peaceful and prosperous Africa. Each conversation, each moment of understanding between adversaries, and each policy insight gained contributes to this larger vision.
This work has been successful only because of the support of our Partners, and we look forward to exploring further collaborations and partnerships. Further information in this regard can be obtained from Lukhanyo Neer, Chief Operating Officer of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, to explore ways of engagement to advance peace and security across the continent – lukhanyo@mbeki.org.
As we reflect on the progress of the 2nd African Peace and Security Dialogue, we remain committed to fostering the serious and sustained engagement that lasting peace demands.
It is only through the collective efforts of Africans that we can transform conflict into collaboration, mistrust into understanding, and division into the foundation for Africa’s Renaissance.
In the spirit of the African Renaissance,
The Thabo Mbeki Foundation
P. S THE OPENING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE THABO MBEKI FOUNDATION GERALDINE FRASER MOLEKETI TO THE 2ND AFRICAN PEACE AND SECURITY DIALOGUE TO FOLLOW ON THIS RADIO FREEDOM PLATFORM.
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