From a peace, security and stability perspective, the Pact for the Future has significant implications for Africa. Two provisions of the Pact for the Future single out Africa as a region and the AU as a regional organisation. The first refers to support for enhanced collaboration between the UN and regional and sub-regional organisations, particularly the AU.
The second refers to the pledge to adapt peace operations to better respond to current and emerging challenges. The Pact for the Future calls for a review of UN peace operations, presenting Africa with an opportunity to refine its own approach through a strategic assessment of AU-led and African PSOs. This includes developing a common African position on peace operations and learning from past conflicts such as in Somalia, Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These experiences show the importance of political solutions in achieving stability, which should not be secondary to military interventions.
To ensure lasting peace, the AU and regional actors must prioritise political resolutions and conflict prevention. It is also vital that Africa maintains its agency in peace operations by ensuring that partnerships with the UN are based on shared political strategies and sufficient resources. The review must also consider the relationship between UN peace operations and African PSOs.
The Pact for the Future reaffirms the need for a paradigm shift in peacebuilding, with its emphasis on prevention, national ownership and a whole-of-society approach. Securing resources for peacebuilding remains a priority, as reflected in the UNGA’s decision to increase the resources available to support the Peacebuilding Fund. The role of youth and women is central.
As Africa implements the Pact’s provisions, it will have to harness technology, empower its youth and foster regional cooperation to achieve meaningful progress in peace and development. Efforts at the national level are key, as member-state engagement remains central to implementing global initiatives. By embracing the 56 action points of the Pact for the Future, the Declaration on Future Generations and the Global Digital Compact, Africa can create the environment necessary to sustain peace, consolidate democracy and drive inclusive development.
